Category Archives: At Risk / Vulnerable Populations

International Discord, Policy Change, and Crisis Abroad 
 

In 2022, there has been a record-breaking surge in migration. This significant influx has even shaken the USA and especially Southern Border states. The surge can be related to a multitude of issues that add further complexity to this already growing crisis. 

To begin, the lifting restrictions of COVID-19 has encouraged more to cross the border, as well as the ‘supposed’ termination of Title 42 on December 21, 2022. However, the Supreme Court decided to extend Title 42 just days before it was meant to end, despite the fact that this policy is in gross violation of international refugee law, as it facilitates discriminatory denials of access to asylum based on nationality and race. Furthermore, Title 42 allows border control to deport immigrants to Mexico or their home countries without verifying whether migrants would be safe to return. Many are forced into Juarez, one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico, especially for women where the rate of femicide has doubled in past years. 

Title 42 is also being attributed to the huge influx of unaccompanied minors. Many families have sent their children alone across the border since Biden’s ruling that minors would be excluded from the policy in hopes that they might finally find safety across the border. 

Despite the fact that Title 42 has been extended, many remain unaware or feel they have no choice but to try and cross the border as the circumstances at home are simply too precarious. The majority of migrants are coming from Venezuela, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba. People are fleeing from oppressive governments, gang violence, poverty, and climate disasters. As a result, the US has seen a radical increase in immigration, with 2.76 million people crossing the border in 2022, breaking the previous annual record of more than 1 million.

The post El Paso: Safe Haven appeared first on Doctors of the World.

How can the USA do better? 

The journey to the USA can already be incredibly traumatic for young children, who may have been exposed to violence and exploitation along the way. It is of the utmost importance that once they are put into U.S. custody, that further harm or trauma is prevented and that they receive care that they deserve. There are several parts of the U.S. immigration system that must be torn down and rebuilt. 

The CBP first and foremost must be held accountable for their actions. Over the years there have been numerous reports of physical violence, corruption, and verbal abuse at the hands of border patrol agents towards migrants across all ages. There must be stronger vetting of agents and any reports of abuse must be dealt with immediately, removing the agent from the field while an investigation is carried out. 

The U.S. government’s criminalization of entering or reentering the country without authorization has also led to a multitude of issues, including mass incarceration. The U.S. government jails more than 50,000 immigrants each day at a more than $3 billion annual cost to taxpayers. Mass detention centers, like the ones used for UAC, are incredibly expensive and riddled with corruption, abuse and neglect. Many investigations have repeatedly found evidence that detention centers are riddled with human rights abuses and should be phased out completely.

Experts argue that a community-based approach would be a much more progressive and cost-effective solution. Rather than spending billions on detention centers, the federal government could subsidize NGOs and community-led organizations to run safe, secure migrant programs. There already exists a broad array of community support services that can ensure that migrants receive the help they need on a variety of issues: legal, housing, transportation, social and medical services. In fact, Doctors of the World runs a border health clinic in collaboration with a local university and NGOs to provide essential health care to migrants.

At Doctors of the World, we have long fought for the rights of migrants, in the USA and abroad. Unaccompanied minors, as well as migrants of all ages, deserve better care than what they currently receive from the U.S. government. The current migration system is one that is fueled by fear and profit at the expense of migrants’ safety and wellbeing. Serious policy changes must be made to ensure that migrants rights are respected and that they receive a fair process in their court trial. Special care must be given to UACs, who are even more vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and long-term trauma. It’s time that the USA drops its rhetoric against migrants, and recognizes them as human beings. 
 
Sources
Children on the Run – Full Report 
U.S. Detention of Child Migrants | Council on Foreign Relations
Nearly 130,000 unaccompanied migrant children entered the U.S. shelter system in 2022, a record – CBS News
This is what happens to child migrants found alone at the border, from the moment they cross into the US until age 18
U.S. shelters received a record 122,000 unaccompanied migrant children in 2021 – CBS News
 
Photography: 
Olivier Papegnies 
MdM Spain 

The post International Migrants Day: Influx of Unaccompanied Minors along the US Southern Border appeared first on Doctors of the World.

How can the USA do better? 

The journey to the USA can already be incredibly traumatic for young children, who may have been exposed to violence and exploitation along the way. It is of the utmost importance that once they are put into U.S. custody, that further harm or trauma is prevented and that they receive care that they deserve. There are several parts of the U.S. immigration system that must be torn down and rebuilt. 

The CBP first and foremost must be held accountable for their actions. Over the years there have been numerous reports of physical violence, corruption, and verbal abuse at the hands of border patrol agents towards migrants across all ages. There must be stronger vetting of agents and any reports of abuse must be dealt with immediately, removing the agent from the field while an investigation is carried out. 

The U.S. government’s criminalization of entering or reentering the country without authorization has also led to a multitude of issues, including mass incarceration. The U.S. government jails more than 50,000 immigrants each day at a more than $3 billion annual cost to taxpayers. Mass detention centers, like the ones used for UAC, are incredibly expensive and riddled with corruption, abuse and neglect. Many investigations have repeatedly found evidence that detention centers are riddled with human rights abuses and should be phased out completely.

Experts argue that a community-based approach would be a much more progressive and cost-effective solution. Rather than spending billions on detention centers, the federal government could subsidize NGOs and community-led organizations to run safe, secure migrant programs. There already exists a broad array of community support services that can ensure that migrants receive the help they need on a variety of issues: legal, housing, transportation, social and medical services. In fact, Doctors of the World runs a border health clinic in collaboration with a local university and NGOs to provide essential health care to migrants.

At Doctors of the World, we have long fought for the rights of migrants, in the USA and abroad. Unaccompanied minors, as well as migrants of all ages, deserve better care than what they currently receive from the U.S. government. The current migration system is one that is fueled by fear and profit at the expense of migrants’ safety and wellbeing. Serious policy changes must be made to ensure that migrants rights are respected and that they receive a fair process in their court trial. Special care must be given to UACs, who are even more vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and long-term trauma. It’s time that the USA drops its rhetoric against migrants, and recognizes them as human beings. 
 
Sources
Children on the Run – Full Report 
U.S. Detention of Child Migrants | Council on Foreign Relations
Nearly 130,000 unaccompanied migrant children entered the U.S. shelter system in 2022, a record – CBS News
This is what happens to child migrants found alone at the border, from the moment they cross into the US until age 18
U.S. shelters received a record 122,000 unaccompanied migrant children in 2021 – CBS News
 
Photography: 
Olivier Papegnies 
MdM Spain 

The post International Migrants Day: Influx of Unaccompanied Minors along the US Southern Border appeared first on Doctors of the World.