Earlier this week, we saw terrible images of repression by American authorities against mothers and children in the U.S.-Mexico border. These people arrived to the frontier on foot, walking thousands of miles from Honduras and other Central American countries. In order to better understand the problem proposed by the so-called “migrant caravan,” below are points on the cause, legality and economic aspect for your consideration.
First, the situation in the northern triangle of Central America exceeds the economic crisis. There, the integrity of many families is at risk due to an installed violent situation. This violence originates from organized criminal activity, fueled by drug trafficking. Organized crime agents who operate from Mexico to Central America are driven by drug consumption and weapon sales in the U.S., their market epicenter.
The severity and recurrence of this crisis is nothing new. A few years ago, many mothers decided to send their children, entrusted to third parties, to meet relatives already established in the U.S. This created the crisis of migrant minors, which the Obama administration dealt with on two fronts: one, domestically, with humanitarian aid for migrants at the border; and two, concerning foreign policy, through a comprehensive cooperation plan for development between the U.S. and Central America. The latter implied millionaire disbursements from the American cooperation entities, which found great resistance in the Republican-majority Congress. Nonetheless, 400 million dollars were administered for this end. However, that effort was suspended once Trump was inaugurated.
The reasons stated have to do with the cause for migration. Next up, the legality of the situation. Asylum is a right provided for in Human Rights international treaties, as well as in U.S. legislation. There are two types of asylum: diplomatic and territorial. Diplomatic asylum is requested in foreign territory before diplomatic headquarters. In contrast, territorial asylum is processed upon arrival in the territory of the country where asylum is required. However, the U.S. exclusively admits territorial asylum applications. In other words, a person can legally reach the border post and submit their asylum application. While waiting for due process, there are several ways to address the situation of the migrant. At this point, it is presumed that deporting the asylum-seeker to the country of origin can put the applicant’s life at risk.
A common practice is to temporarily admit the applicant into the U.S. and set dates for the applicant to appear before the authorities that process the request. Furthermore, if the resolution of the case lasts more than six months, the applicant is granted a provisional work permit; and the authorities can establish a regime of appearances and updated information about the applicant’s residence. If the event the asylum does not proceed, a deportation process begins, with the possibility of leaving voluntarily. On the other hand, if the asylum proceeds, the person can extend the stay in the United States and legally look for a definitive form of establishing roots (if the circumstances that merited the asylum do not change in the native country).
Central American migrants have the right to request asylum in the U.S. It’s completely legal. No authority should greet them with repression and tear gas. It’s imperative to enable mechanisms to receive their proposals and process them. Moreover, there can be a diplomatic negotiation between Mexico and the U.S. to establish a refuge camp while processing the asylum requests. International organizations have the resources for this end, just like it’s currently happening in the Colombia-Venezuela border.
The long time frames for resolving asylum requests in the U.S. is part of the crisis, which has authorities overflowed and with budgetary restrictions. It’s a challenge. Cases can go years without resolution. Beyond the Central American migrants, there are thousands of requests from around the world. For example, the number of pending asylum requests by Venezuelans exceeds 40,000 and increases by 10,000 a year, and growing. Only in 2017, 27,629 Venezuelans filed for territorial asylum, many after entering the United States with a tourist visa. Consider for a moment the families’ harsh reality that forces them to leave their home, only to be met with a repressive and inhumane treatment upon stepping on U.S. soil. Additionally, compare the conduct (and Trump’s administration’s discourse) towards the situation in the Colombia-Venezuela border with the repression pictures seen this week happening in the U.S.-Mexico border. Remember when we applauded Vice President Pence for visiting Venezuelan migrants in Colombia or Miami, offering a friendly American hand? Why treat these Central American families, mothers and children differently?
Very astutely, the newly-elect Democrat New York congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, recently asked Trump on Twitter, “What if instead of sending 5,000 troops to the border, we had sent 5,000 caseworkers to review and process visa applications?”
Finally, let’s move from the legality on to the economic angle. The U.S. is enjoying full employment and economic growth. Thus, there are plenty of work opportunities for these migrants that wont affect employment in the country. Even more, many of them would provide unskilled labor necessary for the country. By granting them legal entry, with a work permit, they would immediately contribute to the economy (and even pay taxes). Official figures indicate that the Latino migrant’s crime is lower, in relative terms, than that of other ethnicities. And in any case, if these applications were processed properly at the border, those who present criminal records or pose a risk to society would be ineligible to enter the country. And, should a person evade such control, the authorities would be a completely able to locate the person, thanks to the identity services available to the police.
In summary, what is happening in the U.S.-Mexican border doesn’t line up with the essence and compromise of the US with the defense of Human Rights. Instead, it’s a xenophobic and racist posture. Dangerous. Such response is inacceptable in the face of an issue that has solutions, and for which there are resources within the legal framework…as long as there is political will. But as it seems that there is not, we’re left incomprehensible of the repression.
Para español lea AL Navío: La inhumana represión a los migrantes en la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos.
Nos leemos por twitter @lecumberry