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| US and Mexico's mass deportations have fueled humanitarian crisis, report says | US and Mexico's mass deportations have fueled humanitarian crisis, report says |
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| Mass deportations and inadequate asylum procedures in Mexico and the US have fueled a humanitarian crisis where desperate Central Americans seeking refuge from rampant violence are routinely preyed upon by criminal gangs and corrupt officials, according to a new report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). | Mass deportations and inadequate asylum procedures in Mexico and the US have fueled a humanitarian crisis where desperate Central Americans seeking refuge from rampant violence are routinely preyed upon by criminal gangs and corrupt officials, according to a new report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). |
| The tide of people fleeing Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala – three of the five most dangerous countries in the world – continues apace despite beefed-up border control measures implemented after Barack Obama declared the 2014 surge in undocumented migrants a humanitarian crisis. Last year, Mexico deported 165,000 Central Americans, while the US expelled 75,000. | The tide of people fleeing Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala – three of the five most dangerous countries in the world – continues apace despite beefed-up border control measures implemented after Barack Obama declared the 2014 surge in undocumented migrants a humanitarian crisis. Last year, Mexico deported 165,000 Central Americans, while the US expelled 75,000. |
| In order to avoid detection, vulnerable people – who include increasing numbers of women and unaccompanied children – are forced to pay higher fees to smugglers, crooked officials, and kidnappers, and use riskier, more isolated routes through Mexico, according to the report Easy Prey: Criminal Violence and Central American Migration. Once deported, many simply try again rather than face hunger and violence at home, creating a revolving door of vulnerable migrants and refugees. | In order to avoid detection, vulnerable people – who include increasing numbers of women and unaccompanied children – are forced to pay higher fees to smugglers, crooked officials, and kidnappers, and use riskier, more isolated routes through Mexico, according to the report Easy Prey: Criminal Violence and Central American Migration. Once deported, many simply try again rather than face hunger and violence at home, creating a revolving door of vulnerable migrants and refugees. |
| The report comes after the US, for the first time, recognised that the surge in people currently fleeing Central America includes potential refugees, not just economic migrants. The Obama administration on Tuesday announced a new scheme whereby Costa Rica will offer temporary protection to 200 eligible Central American refugees at a time before they are settled in the US or another country. | The report comes after the US, for the first time, recognised that the surge in people currently fleeing Central America includes potential refugees, not just economic migrants. The Obama administration on Tuesday announced a new scheme whereby Costa Rica will offer temporary protection to 200 eligible Central American refugees at a time before they are settled in the US or another country. |
| While the news was welcomed as a positive emblematic step by immigrant rights’ groups, there was widespread scepticism about its potential impact amid rapidly rising asylum claims. As violence in the Northern Triangle spiked in 2015, the number of asylum seekers from these countries rose to more than 110,000 – a fivefold increase from 2012. Most seek refuge in Mexico and the US. | While the news was welcomed as a positive emblematic step by immigrant rights’ groups, there was widespread scepticism about its potential impact amid rapidly rising asylum claims. As violence in the Northern Triangle spiked in 2015, the number of asylum seekers from these countries rose to more than 110,000 – a fivefold increase from 2012. Most seek refuge in Mexico and the US. |
| Mary Speck, project director for Mexico and Central America at ICG, said: “The [announcement] shows some recognition by the US of this refugee crisis, and it will help some people. But it does nothing to address the major issue of the huge numbers of vulnerable Central Americans already in Mexico and the US.” | Mary Speck, project director for Mexico and Central America at ICG, said: “The [announcement] shows some recognition by the US of this refugee crisis, and it will help some people. But it does nothing to address the major issue of the huge numbers of vulnerable Central Americans already in Mexico and the US.” |
| As many as 400,000 undocumented migrants cross from Central America into southern Mexico each year, according to the International Organization for Migration. | As many as 400,000 undocumented migrants cross from Central America into southern Mexico each year, according to the International Organization for Migration. |
| The number detained in Mexico has tripled in the past four years amid growing pressure and economic support from the US to stem the flow. The detention of children and adolescents from the Northern Triangle soared from 4,000 in 2011 to 35,000 in 2015. | The number detained in Mexico has tripled in the past four years amid growing pressure and economic support from the US to stem the flow. The detention of children and adolescents from the Northern Triangle soared from 4,000 in 2011 to 35,000 in 2015. |
| But Mexico is increasingly a destination country, not just a transit route. Asylum applications are rising amid information campaigns led by the UN Refugee Agency: 1,470 people applied for asylum in Mexico in the first three months of 2016 – a larger number than in the whole of 2013. | But Mexico is increasingly a destination country, not just a transit route. Asylum applications are rising amid information campaigns led by the UN Refugee Agency: 1,470 people applied for asylum in Mexico in the first three months of 2016 – a larger number than in the whole of 2013. |
| Despite a recent increase in approved asylum claims, drawn-out assessments and inadequate detention facilities mean many who would be eligible either don’t apply or abandon their cases. Mexico has robust laws but its 15 asylum experts are struggling to cope. | Despite a recent increase in approved asylum claims, drawn-out assessments and inadequate detention facilities mean many who would be eligible either don’t apply or abandon their cases. Mexico has robust laws but its 15 asylum experts are struggling to cope. |
| Mexico has the capacity to absorb many more people, but needs international help, according to the ICG. | Mexico has the capacity to absorb many more people, but needs international help, according to the ICG. |
| “The US outsourced its migrant policy to Mexico, and must now work with Mexico to deal with the massive numbers of vulnerable Central Americas here; there is no substitute for this. The mass deportations since 2014 have done nothing to stem the flow of Central Americans. The humanitarian crisis continues, it’s just no longer on the US border,” said Speck. | “The US outsourced its migrant policy to Mexico, and must now work with Mexico to deal with the massive numbers of vulnerable Central Americas here; there is no substitute for this. The mass deportations since 2014 have done nothing to stem the flow of Central Americans. The humanitarian crisis continues, it’s just no longer on the US border,” said Speck. |
| The ICG report also calls on the US to halt the deportation of undocumented Central American youths by offering Temporary Protected Status (TPS) – which would allow them to work legally – rather than risk sending them back to violent neighborhoods. | The ICG report also calls on the US to halt the deportation of undocumented Central American youths by offering Temporary Protected Status (TPS) – which would allow them to work legally – rather than risk sending them back to violent neighborhoods. |
| TPS is most commonly offered in cases of armed conflict and natural disasters but “providing it to Northern Triangle nationals facing surging criminal violence would be a reasonable step to protect individuals, especially youths, vulnerable to attacks or [gang] recruitment”, the report states. | TPS is most commonly offered in cases of armed conflict and natural disasters but “providing it to Northern Triangle nationals facing surging criminal violence would be a reasonable step to protect individuals, especially youths, vulnerable to attacks or [gang] recruitment”, the report states. |