GANGS/REX TILLERSON/STATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration was warned that ending US protections for more than 300,000 Central Americans would strengthen and grow MS-13 and gangs that President Donald Trump has called ‘animals,’ according to an internal report obtained by CNN. But the administration went on to end the protections for citizens of El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua regardless. The warnings came from experts at the State Department in October 2017, and were attached to a letter from then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to then-acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke. The State Department also warned that ending the ‘temporary protected status’ program could also hurt US national security and economic interests, including by driving up illegal immigration. The program covers migrants in the US of countries that have been hit by dire conditions, such as an epidemics, civil war or natural disasters. Previous administrations spanning party had all opted to extend the protections for Central America every roughly two years.”
–Tal Kopan, “Trump admin was warned a policy change could strengthen MS-13. They did it anyway.,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, July 25, 2018 12:00 pm