No Longer Just a Transit Country, Many Central American Immigrants Are Now Fleeing to Mexico Deutsche Welle | |
go to original April 9, 2017 |
Dramatic increases in violence in Honduras and El Salvador have forced many Central Americans to adjust to a new reality. Mexico is no longer a transit country on the way to the United States. "Many immigrants are fleeing life-threatening violence and are looking for international protection in Mexico. In other words: We are talking about refugees," says Ramon Marquez from the immigrant shelter "La 72" in the Mexican state of Tabasco.
In an interview with DW, he said that the number of asylum applications filed in Mexico over the last few years has increased dramatically. Whereas 1,200 people applied for asylum in 2013, that number climbed to 9,000 in 2016. Marquez added that there has also been an "alarming" increase in the number of unaccompanied minors attempting to make their way to the US. Many are fleeing violence in their home countries, but above all, they are trying to escape the forced recruiting of notorious youth gangs like the "Maras."
Most residents at the "La 72" immigrant shelter are from Central America. Some 85 percent are from Honduras, the rest are from Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
The so-called "exotics" - immigrants from other regions and nations - choose different routes. According to Marquez, refugees from Africa or Caribbean countries like Haiti, enter Mexico via its southern border in Chiapas. Their journey to the US often begins at the immigrant stopover "Siglo XXI," in the small town of Tapachula. But a worker at the immigrant shelter warns that Mexico is "hostile territory" for all those who seek to traverse it.
Political scientist Martin Iniguez Ramos, from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), confirms that assessment. Speaking to the weekly newspaper "Proceso," he pointed out the hypocrisy of Mexico demanding immigrants to the US be handled with respect, while at the same time failing to adequately protect people crossing through its own territory. "How can we demand the US make immigration reforms when we trample immigrants rights here in Mexico?" he asks.
Read the rest at Deutsche Welle
We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!
From activities like hiking, swimming, bike riding and yoga, to restaurants offering healthy menus, Vallarta-Nayarit is the ideal place to continue - or start - your healthy lifestyle routine.