Guatemala, a small country having an enormous impact on the united states, a Starting Point in a long and dangerous journey to the u. S. Border by so many who have hit the Brick Walls of poverty, violence, Malnutrition And Disease that plague this region of Central America. Families in many cases sending their children ahead without them Tonight Vice President Kamala Harris on her first foreign trip as vp on the ground here meeting officials and searching for ways to attack the roots of the crisis that is overwhelming the united States Border and facing questions as to why she is here and not there. This is one of our highest priorities, and i came here to be here on the ground to speak with the leader of this nation around what we can do in a way that is significant, and i will continue to be focused on that kind of work as opposed to grand gestures the Vice President , who ill speak with later this evening, declaring once again americas borders are closed a warning that may ring hollow to some, though with the White House Immigration Strategy being tested every day by a crush of arriving migrants, Vice President Kamala Harris tonight is 1,500 miles from the border, in Central America, wanting to slow the tide of u. S. Bound migrants where it starts. The president and i discussed a fundamental belief that most people dont want to leave Home Reporter Vice President harris meeting with guatemalan president Alejandro Giammattei More Unaccompanied Migrant Children come to the u. S. From guatemala than anywhere else. The Vice President with this message to those thinking about making the trip. Do not come we as one of our priorities will discourage illegal migration. Reporter when i sat down with president giammattei afterwards, he praised that message as much clearer than before. When president biden relaxed u. S. Border policy, he says the administration sent out a more welcoming message. Translator the talk that they were going to allow Family Reunification made the coyotes take a lot of children towards the border of the united States Reporter the u. S. Border patrol apprehended nearly 180,000 migrants trying to cross the border in april, the highest number in 20 years. Nearly half came from northern triangle countries of guatemala, el salvador, and honduras the biden administration looks to inject 4 Billion to these countries beset by poverty, crime, and corruption to help reduce that. Can you speak to the u. S. Concerns about corruption and what assurances you are willing to give that any money that would come this way in aid would be properly used and spent . Translator i told the Vice President we did not want one single u. S. Dollar from the united states to be given to the government of guatemala. We asked her to use international organizations like the World Food Program reporter the u. S. Has invested over A Billion and a half dollars in aid to guatemala over the past decade, only to see social conditions worsen and the pace of migration quicken. Harris hopes to reverse that, coming here armed with pledges from a dozen major companies including microsoft, Mastercard And Chobani to invest in the region the head of Guatemalas Chamber of exporters says its a significant step the fact that she met as i read with microsoft, with i applaud that are you optimistic things will improve here . You know what i think you have to be optimistic reporter i traveled to the mountains an hour outside of Guatemala City to visit a small farm representing the kind of prosperity many here hope u. S. Investment can bring so what sort of things are they growing this is french beans. Reporter at the four Pines Cooperative indigenous women earning steady incomes growing produce, most exported to the united states if not for this work would these women potentially and their families want to leave guatemala . Absolutely. As you know, in guatemala we dont have a lot of jobs if we dont have everything here, they have to migrate. Reporter that push to help women here as Vice President harris kicks off her historic first foreign trip as the first female Vice President. With Pressure Mounting at the border, the administration in search of a way to help people of this region find a better Life Right at home im honored to represent my country here in guatemala. Lets pave a path where we create an opportunity for others to become the first in their family or their community to do those things that perhaps others didnt think they were capable of we also wanted to hear from some of the Tens Of Thousands who have decided there is no other way but to make the journey to the u. S. , a trek that is dangerous, costly and uncertain. Kerry sanders met with some of them here. Reporter those who leave Central America for the u. S. Often live in homes built of Sticks Poverty a leading reason so many children head north. Like 17yearold erica. What would you ask for from the Vice President of the united states visiting here [ speaking foreign language ] reporter Wow Food Eric is from honduras, resting in a Refugee Center in Guatemala City youre 12 years old. Did you even tell your mother you were leaving . You did not tell your Mother Reporter his plan, travel the remaining 2500 miles to join his grandfather in atlanta. I tracked down his grandfather, who made the same journey without documentation more than a decade ago. He tells me if eric makes it he will have a place to live. If you get there, what is your plan [ speaking foreign language ] reporter to study and to work. What would you do with the money you earn in the united states . [ speaking foreign language ] reporter youll send it to your family in honduras . Looking for work at 12 years old. 19yearold Blancas Son was born after she was raped in honduras. Shes telling me that its actually more dangerous for her to go back to honduras than it is for her to go to the united states police say Rape And Extortion in the region have gotten worse. That compounded by systemic corruption and repeated hurricanes driving many to give up and leave. Every day 34 people leave guatemala. Thats honduras right there, and just beyond el salvador. Collectively, experts say as many as 700 people leave every week destination, the united states. High in the palmia mountains here twomonthold elsa is the youngest of ten, having her first checkup since birth. If we dont provide her with formula, chances are shes going to start losing weight until its too late for her too late . Shes going to die if someone doesnt help her reporter i asked Elsas Mother if she would let any of them go north alone she said yes in hopes of a better life kerry, its enormously difficult as you found out to get to some of these places reporter lester, it took us ten hours to reach that Mountain Village where malnutritions a big problem. Elsas Mothers Diet consists of beans and water. And while many american parents may think its irresponsible to let children leave alone here many parents believe it is the responsible thing to do for a future. A lot of heartbreak kerry, thanks very much Vice President harris is also not the border with the united states where so many families are making the agonizing decision to send their children alone. Gabe gutierrez is in South Texas tonight. Reporter tired, hungry, terrified. These are the moments they finally reach u. S. Soil. This woman from guatemala tells us gangs threatened to kill her and rape her young daughters. Whether you call it a crisis or not, it is a nightly Ritual Smugglers bringing rafts full of mostly women and children right to this Spot Weve been here before, and overnight it happens every few minutes. We speak with one of the smugglers ourselves. Migrants pay Smugglers Thousands of dollars to make the grueling journey. Discarded Wrist Bands the sign of which migrants paid the fee. There are now more than 17,000 unaccompanied children in u. S. Government custody. The Texas Department of public safety tells us the surge has been nonstop. Its very dangerous. You can see how hot it is the humidity, its going to continue to increase reporter some families taking a drastic step, choosing to separate, sending their children alone over the border because they know the biden administration will let them stay we meet these siblings, 12 and 10 years old, hoping to reach relatives in boston has it been hard . Si. Reporter just after midnight we meet Jenny Mejia from honduras with her 2yearold daughter. We call her relative in Los Angeles and pass her the phone this is the first time theyve been able to speak in two months. Tonight her family in california is awaiting word on whether shell be allowed to stay here in the u. S. While she applies for Asylum Lester all right, gabe, thank you for that much more on all this tomorrow in my exclusive interview with Vice President Kamala Harris here in Guatemala City in just 60 seconds, arrests in that terrible Road Rage Attack that killed a 6yearold Boy. And the controversy over a new alzheimers drug promising News Tonight for people suffering from alzheimers disease. The fda approving a new Drug Treatment that may slow the progression of the disease. But its complicated and controversial. Stephanie gosk explains Reporter Tonight Hope for the roughly 6 Million people suffering from alzheimers. The fda approving the first medical treatment for the disease in 18 years. The drug, aducanumab, developed by the company biogen, attacks the amyloid protein, which builds up in the brains of alzheimers patients the alzheimers association is calling Todays Approval a victory. Thats what Phil Guttes is calling it too. He took part in the Clinical Trial and has been taking the drug for five years my head feels clearer. Definitely im not cured in any way, Shape Or Form but i feel like i have more capacity, more mental capacity than i did four years ago reporter but the Fdas Decision is controversial. The drug is going on the market even though the agency says there are uncertainties regarding clinical benefit and is requiring biogen to do another Clinical Trial. The benefit of the drug remains uncertain. Reporter Phil Guttess Physician worries about possible Side Effects including bleeding in the brain. Where does it leave doctors like yourself when it comes to prescribing this for patients what will you do well, first i need to read the Drugs Label and read it very closely. I also as a researcher really want to learn about the Clinical Trial that theyre proposing to validate the drugs benefits. Reporter Today Biogen announced aducanumab will cost roughly 56,000 a year, a steep Price Tag for a drug that still has to prove itself stephanie gosk, Nbc News there is a new twist in the cyberattack that crippled the nations largest pipeline the Justice Department says the hackers ended up with virtually nothing after the u. S. Turned the tables on them Pete Williams explains how. Reporter What Thousands Of Americans didnt know as they waited in long lines for gasoline after Colonial Pipeline revealed that it was hit with a Ransomware Attack is that the fbi was already investigating darkside, the group in russia blamed for carrying it out. Colonial, it turns out, quickly told the fbi about the attack, and agents were able to find the Bitcoin Account where the ransom was sent. The fbi figured out the password and took nearly all the money back out, says the Deputy Attorney general lisa monaco. Today we turned the tables on Darkside Reporter Colonial paid 4. 4 Million to a Bitcoin Account in Northern California which a judge ordered seized just today according to the u. S. Attorney in San Francisco. The extortionists will never see this money. Reporter Justice Department officials say its a potent way to take the profit out of ransomware. Lester all right, Pete Williams Tonight thank you. After more than a Twoweeklong Manhunt and a reward that grew to over 500,000, two suspects in the Road Rage Shooting that killed a 6yearold Boy in california are under arrest heres Miguel Almaguer Reporter 15 miles away from where the deadly Road Rage Shooting took place investigators arrested 24yearold Marcus Eriz and 23yearold wynne lee. The California Highway Patrol says lee was driving the volkswagen they had been looking for. Eriz was the passenger when a shot was fired from their car, striking this vehicle in the trunk and taking the life of 6yearold aiden leos, who was strapped to his Booster Seat we have recovered what we believe are the Weapon And Automobile used in the crime. We will get justice for him. Reporter investigators have confirmed erizs instagram profile but have not said if any of the weapons seen in posts from more than a year ago were used in the Freeway Shooting in orange. The pair was arrested more than two weeks after the shooting a halfmilliondollar reward generating a flurry of Tips Today Joanna Cloonan buried her son after a Memorial Service saturday they took his life and my heart along with it. He brought so much joy into our hearts. Reporter Tonight Heartbreak and now the promise of justice miguel almaguer, Nbc News Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos said today he will ride into space next month aboard his blue Origin Rocket bezos and his Brother Mark will be among the passengers on the 11minute flight, which will include three minutes of Weightlessness Up Next for us tonight, as Home Prices soar ill look at a movement to create housing that more people can afford oh, you think this is just a Community Center . No. Its way more than that. Cause when you hook our community up with the internet. Boom look at ariana, crushing virtual class. Jamol, chasing that college dream. Michael, doing something crazy. This is the place where we can show the world what we can do. Comcast is partnering with 1000 Community Centers to create wifienabled lift zones, so students from lowincome families can get the tools they need to be ready for anything. Oh were ready. As Home Prices soar, there is a growing movement to address the issue of affordable housing in californias Bay Area. Some say the solution is to build and build more look, theres a jaguar and a spider monkey. Reporter Megan And Ben finch hoped to raise their Son Jack in San Francisco its a wonderful place. Reporter but at 3,600 a month for their 800squarefoot Walkup we have decided to leave the Bay Area and to relocate to portland, Oregon Reporter shes a lawyer hes a teacher about 40 of our Takehome Income goes to rent. Reporter californias Bay Area, home to google, facebook and apple, is among the most expensive Housing Markets in the country, where even modestlooking Homes List for millions of dollars. We have more people who want to live here than we have housing so theres a mismatch. We need more reporter to Activist Sonja trauss the issue is one of supply and demand. Shes a leader in a growing nationwide movement known as yimby. Yimby stands for yes in my back yard. Somebody says yes we need more housing. And even if i personally am anxious about my neighborhood changing i realize its a greater good and we need more housing even if its in my back yard. Reporter one of the biggest problems, she says, Zoning Laws that restrict 82 of residential land in the Bay Area to singlefamily homes and prevent denser housing multiplexes and townhouses. Singlefamily zoning was adopted in 1916 to prevent a dancehall in the exclusive Elmwood District which was predominantly used by africanamericans. So it was rooted in racism it was rooted in Racism Reporter Berkeleys Mayor Jesse arreguin is a convert. Admittedly once in opposition to much new development, hes now pro density, in part out of necessity how do you describe the housing issues in your community i describe it as an emergency. You know, were seeing unprecedented levels of homelessness. People that are facing Housing Insecurity and i really think the root of the problem is the lack of housing. Reporter Rick Hall is president of livable california, arguing more Housing Wont make the Bay Area any more affordable youre never going to get to the point where adding supply at the high end trickles down to help the real People Reporter he wants decisions on zoning made locally and for the focus to be on statesubsidized affordable housing built in commercial districts. If you look at Manhattan Or Seattle or vancouver, Density Hasnt made housing affordable Reporter Mayor Arreguin believes it will this is a fourunit property and as you can see it really fits into the neighborhood that its in reporter he and berkeleys entire City Council are pushing to end singlefamily zoning to allow for more multiplexes like this, hoping more housing throughout the Bay Area i feel sad that the place that i envisioned living my life, raising my kids, that that isnt going to happen. Reporter will mean fewer tough decisions for families like the finches when we come back, ill have some final thoughts from here in guatemala. Tonight on this broadcast our reporting teams have illustrated whats at stake as another administration struggles with how to control americas borders in the face of Mass Migration from impoverished and desperate communities here in guatemala to migrants at the border at the end of a very risky journey to the u. S. To a Guatemala Farm where i found seeds of prosperity being grown. Its a road well traveled, where ideas are plentiful, success so often elusive there are safety, security, economic realities at stake as well as basic Human Compassion political risk goes without saying shortly after this newscast ill be sitting down with Vice President Kamala Harris, whos been tasked to address the central America Piece of Mass Migration. Well talk about her efforts here as well as whats happening on the border well have some of that Interview Tomorrow Morning on today and of course here on Nightly News. Thats nbc Nightly News for this monday from Guatemala City. Thank you for watching, everyone im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night when youre born and raised in San Francisco, you grow up wanting to make a difference. Thats why, at recology, were proud to be 100 employee owned with local workers as diverse as San Francisco. We built the citys Recycling System from the ground up, helping to make San Francisco the greenest Big City In America but we couldnt do it without you. Thank you, San Francisco. Gracias, San Francisco. Thank you. [ speaks native language ] lets keep Making A Differene together