Why the Children Will Keep Coming!
In 2014, sixty thousand Central American children arrived at the borders of the United States, with the majority entering unaccompanied. These children came from the Northern Triangle countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. They were escaping the violence of gangs that force minors to join their ranks.
Although the issue of undocumented children coming to the U.S. was not new, the number of minors from Central America doubled compared to previous years, with 3,933 in 2011 and 20,805 in 2013. The problem was known to the administration, but the sheer volume overwhelmed the capacity of U.S. detention facilities, states, and municipalities. President Obama referred to the migration crisis as a “humanitarian crisis” but did not classify the children as “refugees.” This distinction is crucial as it determines who gets asylum and who is sent back to their original countries.
Despite a drop in the number of unaccompanied children arriving at U.S. borders, the immigration status of many of these children remains uncertain. They continue to come to the U.S. to escape drug cartels, gang violence, murder, and rape prevalent in their home countries. Rising murder rates among youths are a significant driving force behind this mass exodus. Violence in El Salvador, for instance, has increased, making it the most violent country in the region.
The Obama administration promoted initiatives to improve conditions in Central America and curb the migration of unaccompanied minors. One action taken by the U.S. Government was to pay the Mexican Government to stop these migrants from reaching the U.S. border to claim asylum. Mexico has been detaining more unaccompanied children at its borders and deporting them to their home countries. Across Mexico, numerous shelters are filled with Central American refugees still hoping to reach the United States. Many of these Central American immigrants become easy targets for gangs or drug cartels, making their journey through Mexico as dangerous as the Mediterranean crossing.
Why are Americans more inclined to aid those in need of protection elsewhere than those in their backyard? The ambivalence about immigration today often overshadows the humanitarian instinct when people seek to enter the country. Central Americans, like Syrians, meet the United Nations criteria for refugees: anyone escaping their home country due to violence and fearing persecution upon return. Most Central American refugees flee their countries because of gang violence, such as that perpetrated by Mara 18/Barrio 18 or Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). People must pay “la renta” (extortion money) to run a small business or live in a particular neighborhood. Failure to pay can result in the gang killing their children. Gangs also forcibly recruit youths, and refusal can lead to death for them or their families .
Why are Americans ignoring this crisis? Americans recognize that refugees deserve asylum and have demanded that European countries take in more refugees. Almost a year ago, the White House announced that the United States would admit at least 10,000 Syrians. U.S. Democrat Senator Dick Durbin even suggested that the number should be 100,000 instead of 10,000. After visiting refugee camps in Europe, he called the refugee crisis the most important humanitarian challenge of our time. He highlighted the desperation of Syrians, noting that they send a 15-year-old boy with his 8-year-old sister alone to protect them.
Central Americans are equally desperate, sending their children with smugglers and paying over five thousand dollars for an insecure and risky trip. They believe their children have a better chance of surviving the journey to the United States than staying in their violent home countries. If conditions in Central America do not improve, they will continue fleeing north.
Hopefully, one day, Americans will recognize that Central American children are refugees, just like the Syrians.
Sources:
No Childhood Here: Why Central American Children are Fleeing …
Trends in Unaccompanied Child and Family Migration from Central …
Article: Central American Migrants and “La Besti.. | migrationpolicy.org
The 2014 Central American migrant crisis | Vox
Why Central American Children Are Fleeing Their Homes