“U.S. Aid Agency’s Climate Programs Aimed to Curb Migration. Now They’re Gone." Article Reflection No. 126 (2/9/2025)

Article: “U.S. Aid Agency’s Climate Programs Aimed to Curb Migration. Now They’re Gone.”

In The New York Times article “U.S. Aid Agency’s Climate Programs Aimed to Curb Migration. Now They’re Gone.,” journalist Christopher Flavelle discusses the connection between natural disasters and immigration patterns, focusing on the recent events surrounding the U.S. Agency for International Development: President Trump’s order for halting the agency’s expenditures. According to the article, helping countries in Central America confront natural disasters through satellite data, which costs several million dollars, helps decrease migration into the US. As the threat of exacerbated natural disasters and more extreme weather conditions like drought continues being a threat, there is a connection to a larger amount of people who migrate to the US, according to the article. 

Deciding on policies regarding agencies like USAID that have immense power and potential to help developing countries only highlights the great responsibility that developed countries like the US have. In order to promote a sense of camaraderie across nations, and to foster a sense of solidarity especially in the face of adversity and suffering, the US needs to stand up for those whose lives are directly undermined through developments from climate change. Thankfully there are likely many nonprofits and grassroots organizations that fight for this cause. But the large-scale action unfolds nearest to those who are closest to positions of power. That’s why our country leaders are so important—they’re the ones who have the greatest responsibility of caring for their country while being open-minded to helping others, all the while considering the context of the situation and prudently considering precedent as well as the future.