A worried migrant mother holds her young daughter.
Migration-- a journey of resilience and determination-- creates a complex narrative around the world. In Latin America, this struggle unfolds amidst a series of factors driving people to seek new opportunities.
The following graph shows the number of immigrants in the United States as well as the number of immigrants as a percentage of the U.S. population. The number of immigrants has skyrocketed in the past fifty years and continues to rise. A large proportion of immigrants come from Latin American nations.
It's alarming to note that one in four migrants is estimated to be a child. These vulnerable individuals face unique challenges and are often subjected to mistreatment and separation from their families, as seen in the disturbing reports of children held in detention centers.
To comprehend the Latin American migration crisis, we must examine the underlying factors driving people to leave their homes. Economic instability, political unrest, violence, and environmental factors such as climate change contribute to the exodus from countries like Mexico, Haiti, and Venezuela.
Mexico has had a long history of violence and corruption. Cartels and the drug trade contribute to tens of thousands of homicides per year, and these groups pay off politicians, officials, and judges. Despite significant aid from the United States, the Mexican government has failed to solve this issue and the murder rate has remained high. More than 79,000 people have disappeared since 2006, and nearly 11 million immigrants live in the U.S.
Haiti faces a dire humanitarian crisis with the highest hunger rates in the Western Hemisphere, affecting around 4.4 million people, or about 40% of its population as of 2021. Climate change exacerbates the situation, leading to droughts that have devastated harvests, resulting in a 12% loss. With soaring food prices due to inflation, many Haitians spend a large portion of their income on just one meal, perpetuating a cycle of poverty worsened by high reparation rates to France post-independence and crippling loan interest rates. Still suffering from the 2010 earthquake that claimed 200,000 lives, destroyed 250,000 homes, and displaced 1.5 million people, the country struggles with a persistent cholera outbreak and inadequate funding for recovery efforts. Around 700,000 Haitian immigrants seek refuge in the United States, proving the ongoing challenge for stability.
Children detained at the border. Sanchez, Melissa, et al. “Immigrant children sent to shelters are traumatized and sick.” CT Mirror, 14 July 2019, https://ctmirror.org/2019/07/14/immigrant-children-sent-to-shelters-are-traumatized-and-sick/. Accessed 29 February 2024.
The humanitarian crisis unfolding at the border is a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic change. Shockingly, in 2021 alone, over 122,000 children were held in custody without their parents, with distressing images emerging of them confined within cages. Reports reveal several shocking conditions, including outbreaks of COVID-19 and lice, allegations of sexual abuse, excruciatingly long waits for medical attention, and even instances of being served undercooked meat. Such realities highlight the dire need for immediate intervention and a compassionate approach to addressing the plight of these vulnerable individuals.
Given the mistreatment of children at the border, it is important to be an advocate for immigration reform.
You can donate to organizations committed to ensuring support and security at the border. For example, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) provides low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees. Sueños Sin Fronteras de Tejas (SSFTX) aims to increase the health and healing of immigrant women and families by providing direct support, resources, and advocacy that encourages reproductive freedom. We Welcome is an organization that advocates for legislative solutions to make immigrants feel welcome. They even provide templates so you can draft a letter to your elected official!
Below are the links to RAICES, SSFTX and We Welcome.
RAICES:
SSFTX:
We Welcome:
Works Cited
Bryant, Erica. “Children Are Still Being Separated from Their Families at the Border.” Vera Institute, 23 June 2022, https://www.vera.org/news/children-are-still-being-separated-from-their-families-at-the-border. Accessed 29 February 2024.
Buschschlüter, Vanessa. “Venezuela crisis in brief.” BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-48121148. Accessed 29 February 2024.
“The Haiti crisis, explained: 5 things to know.” Concern Worldwide, https://concernusa.org/news/haiti-crisis-explained/. Accessed 29 February 2024.
Maizland, Lindsay, et al. “Mexico's Long War: Drugs, Crime, and the Cartels.” Council on Foreign Relations, 7 September 2022, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/mexicos-long-war-drugs-crime-and-cartels. Accessed 29 February 2024.
“U.S. Immigrant Population and Share over Time, 1850-Present.” Migration Policy Institute, https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/charts/immigrant-population-over-time. Accessed 29 February 2024.
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