Mexican leader expands migration initiative in El Salvador

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador met with his Salvadoran counterpart, Nayib Bukele, on Friday, where they announced a cooperation program to address immigration, aiming to aid people in Central America.

López Obrador touted his pet program, known as "Planting Life," which pays farmers a monthly wage to plant and care for fruit and lumber trees.

Mexico is also funding a program of workplace apprenticeships for unemployed youths. Critics say both programs lack accountability and transparency.

López Obrador has helped fund the expansion of the programs to El Salvador and Guatemala, but he has criticized American officials for being unwilling to fund his programs.

This is only the third overseas trip in more than three years for López Obrador, who is fond of saying that the best foreign policy is good domestic policy. López Obrador is later scheduled to visit Honduras, Cuba, and Belize.