Authors: Ariana Ramos Mercado, Christian Baca
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.
US Enforcement
Texas National Guard is shooting pepper balls to deter migrants at the border
Alejandro Serrano and Urial J. García, The Texas Tribune, June 18, 2024
“National Guard members on the Texas-Mexico border have added pepper ball guns to their arsenal, firing at migrants who are gathering on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande or trying to break through the tangle of concertina wire strung along the border.”
Biden to announce a plan to give protection from deportation to certain migrants
Leila Fadel and Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, June 18, 2024
“President Biden is expected to announce a new executive action to shield certain migrants from deportation at a White House event on Tuesday.”
The Biden Administration’s Parole-In-Place Announcement: Helping Mixed-Status Families Stay Together and Avoid Bureaucratic Traps
American Immigration Council, June 18, 2024
“On June 18, President Joe Biden announced a new program that will allow certain spouses of United States citizens to apply for “parole-in-place” from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This program, which is not yet open for applications, will not only allow up to 550,000 people to receive temporary protections and work permits in the United States, but will generally allow them to apply for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (also known as a green card) through their spouses without risking years of separation from their families.”
President Joe Biden faces first lawsuit over new asylum crackdown at the border
Seung Min Kim and Rebecca Santana, AP News, June 13, 2024
“A coalition of immigrant advocacy groups sued the Biden administration on Wednesday over President Joe Biden’s recent directive that effectively halts asylum claims at the southern border, saying it differs little from a similar move by the Trump administration that was blocked by the courts.”
U.S. offers millions in rewards targeting migrant smugglers in Darién Gap
S. Dev, CBS News, June 11, 2024
“The State Department on Tuesday announced up to $8 million in rewards to target human smugglers operating in the largely ungoverned Darién region between Colombia and Panama. Hundreds of thousands of migrants cross Panama’s treacherous Darién Gap jungle on foot each month on their way to the U.S. southern border.”
Preocupación de ACNUR por las nuevas restricciones al asilo en Estados Unidos
Nacional Unidas México, 6 de junio de 2024
“ACNUR, la Agencia de la ONU para los Refugiados, expresa profunda preocupación por las nuevas medidas en materia de asilo anunciadas hoy por Estados Unidos, que limitan severamente el derecho a solicitar asilo en el país”.
Mexican Enforcement
Asylum claims are down over 40% in México, but migrants still stranded at southern border
Juan Manuel Blanco, The Fresno Bee, June 17, 2024
“Asylum applications have fallen by 41.9% in México in 2024; however, migrants complain that the decrease is due to legal obstacles in the process at the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar).”
En los primeros cinco meses del año, el INM identificó a 1 millón 393 mil 683 personas extranjeras que viajaban en condición irregular
Instituto Nacional de Migración, 16 de junio de 2024
“A través de diversas acciones de verificación migratoria en el país, el Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM), ubicó entre enero y mayo de 2024 a 1 millón 393 mil 683 personas extranjeras que viajaban por el país en condición irregular provenientes de 177 países de los cinco continentes”.
Mexico: People from 177 nations crossed country toward US
Agence France-Presse, June 16, 2024
“Around 1.39 million people from 177 countries traveled through Mexico so far this year trying to reach the United States without entry papers, the Mexican government said Sunday.”
Mexican shelters see crowding south of the border as Biden’s asylum ban takes hold
Valerie Gonzalez, ABC News, June 14, 2024
“Some shelters south of the U.S. border are caring for many more migrants now that the Biden administration stopped considering most asylum requests, while others have yet to see much of a change.”
México destina 108.3 millones de dólares para atender causas de la migración en la región
Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias, 12 de junio de 2024
“El Gobierno de México, a través de la Agencia Mexicana de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (Amexcid) y los mecanismos de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (CID), informó este martes que destinó 108,3 millones de dólares para atender causas de la migración en la región”.
Mexico’s tactic to cut immigration to the US: wear out migrants
Megan Janetsky and Félix Márquez, AP News, June 11, 2024
“Since ‘fleeing crisis in Venezuela in January, the 23-year-old had trekked through the Darien Gap jungle dividing Colombia and Panama, narrowly survived being kidnapped by a Mexican cartel and waited months for an asylum appointment with the United States that never came. She finally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in May, only to have American authorities expel her.”
Ciudad de México desaloja el campamento migrante de la plaza Giordano Bruno ante las presiones vecinales
Alejandro Santos CID, El País, June 6, 2024
“La plaza Giordano Bruno, en el corazón de la colonia Juárez de Ciudad de México, es desde hace años sede de un campamento irregular de migrantes haitianos que sobreviven allí por la cercanía con las oficinas de la Comisión Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados (Comar), donde tienen que tramitar los papeles para cruzar México legalmente en su camino hacia Estados Unidos. Los vecinos y las autoridades no los quieren ahí, la policía los echa, ellos vuelven a instalarse a pesar de las condiciones insalubres y así pasan los meses”.
Root Causes
Mexico
Presidenta del Instituto Electoral de México afirma que el cambio de poderes es “pacífico”
EFE Noticias, 18 de junio de 2024
“La consejera presidenta del Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE), Guadalupe Taddei, resaltó este martes la vía “pacífica” del cambio de poderes, tras el proceso electoral del pasado 2 de junio, pese a haber sido considerado el más violento en la historia de México”.
Volker Türk llama a México para que se investiguen homicidios de candidatos
Jatziri Magallanes, MVS Noticias, June 18, 2024
“Volker Türk, alto Comisionado de la ONU para los Derechos Humanos, llamó a las autoridades mexicanas a investigar los asesinatos de candidatos a puestos de elección popular durante el pasado proceso electoral en el país”.
Mexico’s Sheinbaum says Indigenous rights a priority for constitutional reforms
Reuters, June 18, 2024
“Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday said she considers constitutional reforms for social programs concerning the rights and recognition of Indigenous people as a key priority for upcoming talks.”
Mexico’s incoming president says surveys show support for controversial judicial reforms
Mariana Martínez Barba, AP News, June 17, 2024
“In a move reminiscent of her political mentor, incoming Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday displayed a series of surveys commissioned by her political party that she said show a wide majority approve of controversial judicial changes.”
US suspends inspections of avocados, mangoes in Mexico’s Michoacan state over security concerns
Mark Stevenson, AP News, June 17, 2024
“The United States government has suspended inspections of avocados and mangoes in the Mexican state of Michoacán due to security concerns, an official said Monday.”
Fortaleciendo alianzas por la igualdad y la autonomía económica de las mujeres: ONU Mujeres y el Gobierno del Estado de Oaxaca firman Memorándum de Entendimiento
Naciones Unidas México, 13 de junio de 2024
“En las instalaciones de la “Tienda hecho en Oaxaca” en la ciudad de Oaxaca, la Entidad de las Naciones Unidas para la Igualdad de Género y el Empoderamiento de las Mujeres (ONU Mujeres) y el Gobierno del Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca, a través de la Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico (SEDECO) y la Secretaría de las Mujeres de Oaxaca, firmaron un Memorándum de Entendimiento (MoU) para establecer una colaboración que permita avanzar hacia la igualdad de género, la autonomía económica de las mujeres y las niñas oaxaqueñas, así como a la prevención de la violencia de género”.
Mexico’s bloodiest election in history sends new asylum-seekers to the US border
Caitlin Stephen Hu, David Culver, Norma Galeana and Evelio Contreras, CNN, June 12, 2024
“A shop owner and local coordinator for a political party on the outskirts of Mexico City, Norma called authorities in November to file a complaint about noise coming from the building next door to her house. The building was being used by a rival political party, she believes.”
Thousands of displaced residents in southern Mexico fear returning to their homes after violence
Raúl Vera, AP News, June 11, 2024
“Thousands of residents displaced by violence that intensified this week in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas remained fearful Tuesday of returning to their homes.”
The Time is Now: Mexico Must Grant Haitians Refugee Protections under the Cartagena
Center for Human Rights Global Justice, June 2024
“This report published by Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Matías de Córdova A.C. and the Global Justice Clinic shows why Mexico–and, by extension, all countries that have signed the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees–must grant Haitians refugee status.”
Guatemala
Educación de Guatemala reporta 51 escuelas dañadas por lluvias
Prensa Latina, junio de 18 de 2024
“El departamento de Comunicación Social de esa cartera detalló el impacto en 12 centros de Quiché, nueve de Baja Verapaz, igual cantidad en Santa Rosa, ocho en Totonicapán, cuatro per cápita en Huhuetenango y Sacatepéquez, tres en Petén y dos en esta capital”.
Aduanas de Guatemala y Panamá fortalecen cooperación técnica
Brenda Larios, Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias, 18 de junio de 2024
“Autoridades de la Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria (SAT) y Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas de Panamá firmaron un memorándum de entendimiento de cooperación técnica”.
Codred de Guatemala en alerta amarilla institucional para responder a incidentes por lluvias
Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias, 18 de junio de 2024
“La Gobernación Departamental de Guatemala informó de la declaración de alerta amarilla institucional debido a las fuertes lluvias que afectan el territorio nacional”.
Guatemala se une a llamado por la paz
Luis Carrillo, Diario de Centro América, 18 de junio de 2024
“Guatemala se sumó a más de 80 países y organizaciones internacionales en un llamado a la paz y al cese de la guerra en Ucrania, durante una reciente cumbre celebrada en Suiza, donde los gobiernos participantes expresaron su respaldo a la integridad territorial de Ucrania frente a la invasión rusa”.
Cayalá, la polémica “ciudad utópica” que se convirtió en el destino favorito de los ricos en Guatemala
Ayelén Oliva, BBC News, 14 de junio de 2024
“Ubicada en el este de la capital guatemalteca, Cayalá se ha convertido en poco tiempo en el destino favorito de los más ricos del país”.
Guatemala lawyer who defended rural and Indigenous people killed in attack
The Associated Press, ABC News, June 6, 2024
“A Guatemalan lawyer who worked closely with organizations representing farmworkers and Indigenous groups was killed in an apparent ambush, human rights organizations said Thursday.”
El Salvador
WFP at hand as El Salvador bears brunt of storms lashing Central America
WFP, reliefweb, June 20, 2024
“The World Food Programme is working with the Government of El Salvador to respond to devastating floods in the country that have killed 12 people, after an intense storm struck Central America over the weekend.”
Habitantes en riesgo de Puerto Parada se rehusaron a evacuar
Jacqueline Mejía, elsalvador.com, 20 de junio de 2024
“Una comisión conformada por diferentes instituciones públicas y de socorristas se desplegaron desde el martes hacia el cantón de Puerto Parada, del municipio de Usulután Este, con el objetivo de evacuar a las familias de la zona por el nivel de vulnerabilidad en el que se encuentran ante inundaciones por lluvias, pero según informaron, nadie quiso dejar sus viviendas”.
El Salvador and Argentina to ‘strengthen’ war on organised crime
Buenos Aires Times, June 19, 2024
“Argentina and El Salvador have signed an agreement to “strengthen” the war on organised crime, both governments have announced. Security Minister Patricia Bullrich inked an accord with her Salvadorean counterpart Gustavo Villatoro, during a visit to the Central American nation.”
Seis militares enfrentan audiencia penal en El Salvador por la violación de una niña
EFE, Diario Libre, 19 de junio de 2024
“Una corte penal de El Salvador instaló este miércoles la audiencia preliminar contra seis militares acusados de varios delitos tras la violación sexual de una niña en septiembre de 2023, según informó la Fiscalía General de la República (FGR)”.
El Salvador está en segundo lugar de C.A. en materia de transición energética
Irma Cantizzano, La Prensa Grafica, 19 de junio de 2024
“El Salvador solo está debajo de Costa Rica en materia de transición energética, es decir de los mejor preparados para la transición necesaria para frenar el cambio climático, según la clasificación elaborada por el Foro Económico Mundial (WEF)”.
Bukele’s Second Term: From The War Against Gangs to the War Against Corruption?
Ana María Méndez Dardón, WOLA, June 13, 2024
“In light of this, we analyze the state of the fight against corruption in El Salvador and the political-institutional challenges regarding transparency and access to information. We also explore potential actions from the international community.”
Honduras
Gen. Richardson Meets With President, Senior Officials During Visit to Honduras
U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs, June 20, 2024
“U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, visited Honduras June 17-18 and met with Honduran President Xiomara Castro and other senior officials to discuss continued bilateral cooperation.”
Más de 6,000 personas afectadas debido a las lluvias en el sur de Honduras
El País, 19 de junio de 2024
“Unas 6,104 personas se han visto afectadas por las intensas lluvias que azotan la zona sur de Honduras, así lo informó este miércoles el jefe de alerta temprana, Juan José Reyes. Entre los datos reportados, una 316 damnificados, mientras que 213 personas han tenido que evacuar sus hogares de forma preventiva”.
Informe desde Ciudad de Guatemala: nuevas medidas contra el crimen organizado en Honduras
France 24, 16 de junio de 2024
“La presidenta de Honduras, Xiomara Castro, anunció un radical paquete de medidas contra el crimen organizado. Este incluye una agresiva reforma del código penal para calificar el narcotráfico como delito terrorista, la construcción de una nueva cárcel con capacidad para 1.000 presos, así como órdenes de búsqueda y captura para líderes y miembros de estructuras criminales y extraditables. Más información con nuestro corresponsal para Centroamérica, Andrés Suárez Jaramillo”.
Honduras implements crime solution plan to address rampant gang violence
Tiffany Rojas, Jurist News, June 16, 2024
“The National Defense and Security Council led by President of Honduras Xiomara Castro announced in a national broadcast Friday a sweeping plan to crack down on crime and safeguard national security.”
Honduras plans to build a 20,000-capacity ‘megaprison’ for gang members as part of a crackdown
AP News, June 15, 2024
“The president of Honduras has announced the creation of a new 20,000-capacity “megaprison,” part of the government’s larger crackdown on gang violence and efforts to overhaul its long-troubled prison system.”
Regional
Global Trends report 2023
UNHCR, June 2024
“UNHCR’s Global Trends report presents key statistical trends and the latest official statistics on refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people worldwide. At the end of 2023, 117.3 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order.”
Rescuers find more victims after a landslide in Ecuador, rising the death toll to 8
AP News, June 17, 2024
“Rescue teams and some inhabitants searched the mud Monday looking for more victims of a landslide in central Ecuador that killed at least eight people. Heavy rains over the weekend drenched several provinces of Ecuador, but the community of Baños was one of the most affected when a hill partially collapsed Sunday and swept over some houses and vehicles. Ecuador’s Risk Management office said in a press release that besides the eight confirmed deaths, 11 others were missing and 22 more were injured.”
A Journey of Trust and Resolve: Supporting the Chapra’s Fight for Their Land
Ricardo Perez and Raphael Hoetmer, Amazon Watch, June 14, 2024
“The Chapra people have only worked with international organizations like Amazon Watch for less than two years, and they continually surprised us throughout our week-long visit to their territory deep in the Peruvian Amazon. We were deeply impacted by the richness of the forest they protect, their fierce independence, the great food coming out of their territory, and the powerful leadership of their first woman president, Olivia Bisa Tirko.”
At least 13 killed in Central America as heavy rains trigger floods, landslides
France24, June 8, 2024
“Thirteen people have died in flooding and landslides in El Salvador and Guatemala as heavy rains pound Central America, authorities from the two countries said.”
Gender and LGBTQ+
Brazilian rape victims who have abortions may face longer in jail than rapists
Diana Cariboni, openDemocracy, June 20, 2024
“Abortion is illegal in Brazil with only three exceptions: risk to the life of the pregnant person, fetus anencephaly (a condition in which parts of the fetus’ skull and brain don’t develop) and rape. In these cases, people can seek an abortion with no time limits. But a new bill that Brazilian conservatives are attempting to push through seeks to declare all abortions performed after week 22 of the pregnancy as homicide – and punishable with prison terms of up to 20 years.”
Los feminicidios (asesinatos de mujeres por cuestiones de género) van en aumento en América Latina
Que Pasa, 17 de junio de 2024
“En 2023, una mujer fue asesinada por razones de género cada dos horas en la región latinoamericana. Se trata de un dato inquietante divulgado en el más reciente informe de la asociación Mundosur, una organización francoargentina que desde 2021 ha recopilado datos mensuales de feminicidios de entre 10 y 16 países de América Latina”.
In search of safety – LGBTIQ+ people on the move
United Nations Women, June 14, 2024
“It is estimated that only 37 countries grant asylum to persons experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, or sex characteristics. LGBTIQ+ migrants face heightened risks at all stages of migration.”
LGBTQ+ asylum seekers search for safety in US after persecution abroad
Leah Sarnoff and Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, June 12, 2024
“Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment has been growing around the world, according to the human rights research group Institute for Strategic Dialogue, as political movements rallying against gender and sexual minorities gain traction.”
- *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.
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