Welcome to LAWG’s Migration News Brief, a compilation of recent top articles and reports related to issues of U.S. immigration and enforcement policy and migration from Central America and Mexico.
SPOTLIGHT
Blog: Raising Our Voices for Human Rights Defenders in Mexico with SERAPAZ and Indigenous Leader Mario Luna Romero
Olivia Ochoa, Latin America Working Group, August 4, 2022
“Human rights defenders and journalists are desperate for change in Mexico. Human rights and freedom of expression have been under attack for years.”
Action Alert: CALL NOW to tell Congress you believe in restoring asylum!
Yadira Sánchez-Esparza, Latin America Working Group, July 22, 2022
“Did you know that the pandemic is STILL being used as justification for refusing, detaining, and expelling asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border?”
U.S. ENFORCEMENT
‘VIP trips’ cost migrants their lives in Texas smuggling tragedy
Daina Beth Solomon, Jackie Botts and Laura Gottesdiener, Reuters, August 1, 2022
“At first, Mexican migrants Pablo Ortega and Julio Lopez enjoyed the smuggling equivalent of a first-class ticket to the United States: complimentary beers, safe houses with video games, even a week at a hunting ranch.”
Deported veterans might not know there’s a legal path for return to U.S., advocate says
Salvador Rivera, 22 News WWLP, August 1, 2022
“Sergio Sandoval was supposed to return home through the San Ysidro Port of Entry last week after having been deported 22 years ago, but his homecoming took an unexpected turn of events, and he ended up in a San Diego County jail.”
American Immigration Council, August 1, 2022
“This Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) suit seeks to compel U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide information about the agency’s treatment of Haitian nationals detained at the Torrance Detention Facility.”
Biden Administration Divided on Fate of Remain in Mexico Program
Michelle Hackman, The Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2022
“Despite the Supreme Court win and official opposition to Trump-era asylum policy, some senior NSC officials express concerns about new border surges.”
It Will Now Be Harder For Unaccompanied Immigrant Children To Languish In Government Custody
Wilfredo Lee, Buzzfeed News, July 28, 2022
“The US reached a settlement Thursday that establishes fingerprinting deadlines for parents and sponsors trying to get unaccompanied immigrant children out of government custody.”
Biden administration to fill border wall gaps near Yuma, Arizona
CBS News, July 28, 2022
“The Biden administration on Thursday authorized completion of the Trump-funded U.S.-Mexico border wall in an open area of southern Arizona near Yuma, where four wide gaps make it among the busiest corridors for illegal crossings.”
Priscilla Alvarez, CNN, July 27, 2022
“Human smugglers frequently misrepresent immigration policies and conditions along the US-Mexico border in Facebook and WhatsApp social media posts targeting US-bound migrants.”
The clock ticks down on immigration deal that could help rein in food inflation
Garrett Downs, Politico, July 25, 2022
“Hopes that Congress will finally pass a bipartisan fix to the flawed farm labor system are dwindling, despite supporters’ argument that it could bring down soaring food prices.”
Mayorkas traveling to Central America to meet with Honduran president
Sandra Sanchez, Border Report, July 25, 2022
“Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is traveling to Honduras this week to meet with the president over increasing migration from the Central American country, the agency announced.”
Supreme Court turns down Biden’s emergency immigration appeal
David G. Savage, The Los Angeles Times, July 21, 2022
“The Supreme Court on Thursday turned down an emergency appeal from the Biden administration and left in place a Texas judge’s order that says the government must detain and deport immigrants who have serious crimes on their record.”
ICE Is Wasting Millions of Dollars on Unnecessary Detention Beds
Erica Bryant, Vera, July 20, 2022
“For decades, the U.S. immigration system has consistently overinvested in the apparatus of punishment and confinement while underinvesting in practices that can help protect the safety and rights of people who come to this country.”
MEXICAN ENFORCEMENT
‘México se dobló’, revela yerno de Trump en libro
José Díaz Briseño, Reforma, 2 de agosto de 2022
“La Administración de Donald Trump propuso en 2018 un pacto al Gobierno del Presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador para ayudarlo con sus prioridades políticas si México se enfocaba en reducir los flujos migratorios hacia Estados Unidos, revela Jared Kushner en un nuevo libro”.
México deporta más de un centenar de venezolanos
DW, 31 de julio de 2022
“El Instituto Nacional de Migración de México detalló que desde principios de año se realizaron 343 deportaciones a Venezuela”.
Migrant shelter shut down over allegations of forced labor
Roberto Delgado and Julian Resendiz, 22 News WWLP, July 28, 2022
“The state of Chihuahua has shut down a Juarez migrant shelter over allegations that its operator engaged in forced labor practices.”
ROOT CAUSES
In Widening Crackdown, Renowned Journalist Arrested in Guatemala
Oscar Lopez, The New York Times, July 30, 2022
“In another sign of growing political repression in Guatemala, the authorities have arrested an award-winning journalist who was critical of the government and raided the offices of the newspaper he founded.”
The White House’s Plan to Stem Migration Protects Corporate Profits—Not People – In These Times
Brigitte Gynther and Azadeh Shahshahani, In These Times, August 2, 2022
“The United States has long promoted corporate interests, which generate profits for U.S. companies and local elites, at the expense of the majority of the peoples of northern Central America, and this new “Call to Action” is no different. “
Legislativo vuelve a aprobar amnistía para migrantes en tránsito hacia Norteamérica
Proceso Digital, 3 de agosto de 2022
“El Congreso Nacional (CN) aprobó este miércoles por unanimidad de votos y en tercer debate la amnistía para migrantes extranjeros en tránsito hacia Norteamérica por los próximos seis meses en Honduras”.
La soledad del periodista José Rubén Zamora
Carolina Gamazo y David Toro, No-ficción, 31 de julio de 2022
“El presidente de elPeriódico, José Rubén Zamora, fue capturado el pasado viernes en su residencia y las oficinas del medio fueron allanadas”.
Guatemala detains renowned journalist on money laundering, blackmail allegations
Sofia Menchu, Reuters, July 30, 2022
“Guatemalan authorities arrested a well-known local journalist on accusations of money laundering and blackmail, according to a prosecutor in charge of the case, a move that has sparked outrage among human rights activists.”
Honduras ha retenido a 54,275 extranjeros por movilizarse de manera irregular
Proceso Digital, 29 de julio de 2022
“Al menos 54,275 inmigrantes, en su mayoría de Cuba, han sido detenidos en Honduras en el primer semestre de 2022 por ingresar de manera ilegal al país con la idea de llegar a Estados Unidos”.
Alejandro Mayorkas: “Perseguiremos las finanzas y propiedades de los contrabandistas de emigrantes”
Juan Carlos Rivera, La Prensa, 28 de julio de 2022
“En una entrevista exclusiva con Diario LA PRENSA, el secretario de Seguridad Nacional de Estados Unidos dijo que usarán más tecnología contra esas organizaciones”.
Climate migration growing but not fully recognized by world
Julie Watson, AP News, July 28, 2022
“Worsening climate largely from the burning of coal and gas is uprooting millions of people, with wildfires overrunning towns in California, rising seas overtaking island nations and drought exacerbating conflicts in various parts of the world.”
La Lista Engel desnuda la debilidad política de Estados Unidos en América Central
Jennifer Ávila, Rodrigo Baires, Oswaldo Hernández y Wilfredo Miranda, The Washington Post, July 27, 2022
“El Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos actualizó la semana pasada la Lista Engel, que incluye a 60 funcionarios, exfuncionarios, empresarios, fiscales y jueces centroamericanos a quienes ese país ve como corruptos o antidemocráticos”.
Eréndira Aquiro, Animal Politico, 26 de julio de 2022
“Entre enero y junio de 2022, al menos 47 mujeres fueron quemadas de manera intencional en México, es decir, en promedio se cometieron entre uno y dos ataques de este tipo cada semana”.
Nueve de cada 10 hondureños migran por la pobreza en el 2022
Patricia Silva, Tiempo.hn, 25 de julio de 2022
“Organismos nacionales e internacionales han sostenido a lo largo de los años que la pobreza, el desempleo y la violencia, son factores fuertes que impulsan a los hondureños a migrar”.
Honduras país de Centroamérica que más ciudadanos expulsa bajo la migración
Criterio.hn, 23 de julio de 2022
“Honduras continúa liderando los países de la región en tema de migración, solo en los primeros cinco meses del 2022, un total de 24,500 hondureños recorren la ruta hacia Estados Unidos”.
Primera defensora de Derechos Humanos en asumir la Dirección del Mecanismo de Protección
Reporteros de Investigación, 21 de julio de 2022
“La trabajadora social, con una maestría en gerencia social y defensora de derechos humanos, Carmen Escobar, es la nueva Directora General del Sistema de Protección”.
The deadly connections between climate change and migration
Sarah Kennedy, Yale Climate Connections, July 20, 2022
“Thousands of people have died attempting to enter the U.S. from Mexico. And the crossing is growing even more dangerous as the climate changes.”
Sembrando Vida: Mexico’s agriculture scheme pitched as migration solution
Yanini Quiroz, Diálogo Chino, 19 de julio de 2022
“Programme expands in Central America, as observers call for clarity on official claims it boosts environment and helps stem migration flows.”
Mexico’s Leader Says Poverty Is His Priority. But His Policies Hurt the Poor
Maria Abi-Habib and Oscar Lopez, The New York Times, July 18, 2022
“Halfway into the president’s term, the plight of Mexico’s lower classes has only worsened. Economists say it is the result of government mismanagement of welfare programs and the economy.”
ACTIONS, ALERTS, AND RESOURCES
ICE Air Flights July 2022 & Last 12 Months
Thomas H. Cartwright, Witness at the Border, August 2, 2022
“The Title 42 closure of the border and the folly of deterrence continues as the deaths accelerate.”
Weekly U.S.-Mexico Border Update: Migrant deaths, buses from Texas, smugglers and social media
Adam Isacson, Washington Office on Latin America, July 29, 2022
“With this series of weekly updates, WOLA seeks to cover the most important developments at the U.S.-Mexico border.”
Migration Policy Regimes in Latin America and the Caribbean
Diego Acosta Arcarazo and Jeremy Harris, Inter-American Development Bank, July 25, 2022
“To understand how states are responding to their new migration challenges, a new IDB publication compiles and analyzes the most comprehensive database on Migration Policy Regimes in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Thriving in San Marcos: Mainstreaming Migration for Development in Guatemala
Kathryn Klaas, Jaqueline Barrios, and Rut Velásquez, The Dialogue Leadership for the Americas, July 22, 2022
“In this report, The Inter-American Dialogue is pleased to present the activities and results of the Thriving in San Marcos initiative.”
WMO issues report State of Climate in Latin America and Caribbean
World Meteorological Organization, July 22, 2022
“Extreme weather and climate change impacts including mega-drought, extreme rainfall, land and marine heatwaves and glacier melt are affecting the Latin America and the Caribbean region, from the Amazon to the Andes and from Pacific and Atlantic Ocean waters to the snowy depths of Patagonia.”
The Missing Link: Connecting Eligible Asylees and Asylum Seekers with Benefits and Services
Essey Workie, Lillie Hinkle, and Stephanie Heredia, Migration Policy Institute, July 2022
“The United States has a long history of providing humanitarian protection, including by resettling refugees who seek protection from abroad and granting asylum to individuals who apply from within the country or at its borders.”
Unidad de Protección a Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala, junio de 2022
“UDEFEGUA es una organización que desde hace 21 años nace con el objetivo de orientar, acoger, investigar, denunciar, proteger y dar seguimiento a los ataques contra personas, organizaciones y comunidades defensoras de derechos humanos, tanto en Guatemala como en el resto de Centroamérica”.
* The Migration News Brief is a selection of relevant news articles, all of which do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Latin America Working Group.
P.S. Do you know of someone who might be interested in receiving the Migration News Brief? Tell them to email ysanchezesparza@lawg.org.
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