Introducing... The Monarch !
Good Morning ! :)
The Monarch- a bi-weekly MRC's student-written newsletter that informs about any recent immigrant or migrant news that could be going on in the area, in the country, or globally.
We at MRC find that it is imperative that you know about any important events that could be happening, so we have made it our duty to deliver news that will further inform about the importance of migrant rights, the issues and struggles of immigration, and the overall message of MRC- as well as ways that you yourself could help!
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Venezuelan Migration Crisis
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Many Venezuelans journeyed with much of their belongings but were forced to drop them once the trek became more difficult.
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It’s easy to think of refugee crises as something that can only happen far away. The Syrian civil war, and most recently, the war in Ukraine, can make it seem like displaced people are a part of the Old World and its conflicts. However, over the past few years, a crisis resulting in millions of refugees has been happening in Venezuela, with many leaving their homes and risking their lives for better opportunities. And where exactly are they making their passage through?
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Map of the Darien Gap- courtesy of the New York Times
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The answer is the Darien Gap- Panama’s notorious jungle between Columbia and Panama. The Darien Gap, for decades, was considered an incredibly dangerous route, so much so that from 2010-2020 annual crossings were below 11,000 people. In the past year alone, asylum-seekers have made headlines as hundreds upon thousands of refugees, mostly Venezuelans- around 156,000- have made the dangerous trek across the Darien Gap in search of a better life in the United States. It begs the question, why are they making this perilous journey in the first place… and is it worth the risk? Since 2014, an estimated 6.8 million Venezuelan refugees have fled the country, mostly to Latin and Caribbean countries, due to years of failed socioeconomic instabilities and policies under Nicolas Maduro’s regime. Furthermore, Venezuelans are in search of an escape from the constant violence, insecurity, and threats- as well as the lack of food, medicine, and other essential services. However, because of pressure from the Biden administration, Mexico introduced heavy restrictions on air travel in order to limit Venezuelan migration- ultimately leading them to resort to this dangerous land journey. With many migrants embarking with almost no understanding of the terrain, the geography, or the general social conflicts that lay ahead, most Venezluens are finding the journey to be more difficult than presumed. Not only do they encounter the uncertainty of the land, but they face a criminal group that controls the region, where many migrants have already been extorted or sexually assaulted on the route- where many others have passed on the hike alone after a steep fall, or swept away by the river.
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A large majority of the Venezuelans that traveled were children.
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A break was taken on the border of Columbia and Panama.
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The mud was especially difficult to make safe passage through.
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What does this mean for the United States?
As aforementioned, under Biden, the new initiative reassuring Mexico to reduce the migration from Venezuela has been slammed against, claiming that the program is essentially doing more harm than good when it ignores U.S. asylum obligations. Furthermore, under the initiative, and as part of a bilateral deal with the Mexican government, Mexico will agree to accept Venezuelan immigrants that were sent from the U.S.- However, this will only allow border agents to rapidly expel them without considering their claims for asylum. As much as this program is meant to address the rising numbers of Venezuelan migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexican border, it does more harm when the Mexican government has its own expulsion policy known as Title 42, which is a public health order that allows migrants to be refused without the chance to claim asylum either. As a result, Venezuelans have been continuously released into the United States to pursue their claims.
Fortunately enough, the Biden administration announced it would accept up to 24,000 Venezuelans via a humanitarian plan, one similar to that used for the Ukrainians. This plan will hopefully lead them to enter the country through a narrow, and legal, pathway. However, those that apply for the program must have a sponsor in the United States who shows that they are capable of financially supporting the migrant for up to two years. These are not the only requirements, since those that apply must be heavily vetted (as well as the sponsor and the sponsor’s financials), and assure that they have the correct vaccinations that comply with public health requirements. Those that are granted parole will also be allowed to work legally in the United States.
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Ending Remarks:
As a child of immigrants that were lucky enough to make passage safely into the United States, this story especially hurt to read because of how much these migrants are willing to risk for safety and security in a country that is more financially stable than their own- and how much they are willing to leave behind without any idea of certainty for the future. However, their resilience and their faith in a better life is something to admire, and something that further emphasizes to me the importance in learning about these crises, in the hope that more can hopefully be done for them in the future.
Overall, I urge those reading to learn more about this issue from other resources and formulate your own opinions as well :)
THANK YOU FOR READING
- Camila (Education Coordinator)
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