Honduras inaugurates first female president

Xiomara Castro was booted from Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, in 2009 when a military coup cut short her husband’s presidency. On Thursday, she returned to be sworn in as the nation’s first woman in the office, finally winning her third bid for the presidency. Castro, 62, criticized the outgoing administration for massive debt and rampant poverty that has pushed many citizens to migrate. She promised to work on economic growth, tackle gang activity, and restrict pro-life measures. First, Castro must resolve congressional disputes, as two separate parties claimed leadership over the newly elected Congress.

What about immigration? U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attended the inauguration, eager to form a diplomatic relationship with the new leader. Harris is tasked with addressing the surge of Central American migrants at the U.S. southern border. She met with Castro shortly after the inauguration, and her office said they spoke about the root causes of migration and how to combat corruption. The presidents of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua did not attend, possibly signaling tensions with neighboring countries.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Stew about recent investments in Central America and possible effects on immigration.