Mexico – Visit to the US-Mexico Border
On 20 and 21 March, we participated in the Migration Network of the United States and Canada Conference meeting, which took place in Tucson (Arizona). This meeting allowed us to learn about the work in both countries, especially on Mexico's border, in the country's interior through the constitution of an Accompaniment Network and in universities. This meeting also allowed us to continue building bridges between the USA/Canada and CPAL Conferences around forced migration, understanding that it is a continental challenge, as expressed in the 2022assembly in Bogota.
At the close of the meeting, we accompanied a peaceful demonstration by migrants, who are asking the American government to allow them to enter the country regularly and, if necessary, seek asylum after the third year of Title 42. During the demonstration, people expressed their fear of remaining in Mexico for security reasons, the reasons that forced them to leave their homes and their intention to migrate regularly, despite the restrictive policies in force along the migratory route.
For their part, the US and Canadian Conference publicly denounced the Biden administration's measures that restrict access to asylum and put the lives of migrants at risk. Furthermore, they expressed their solidarity and intention in welcoming and accompanying those forced to migrate (See the position in Spanish and original in English).
After this, some participants had the opportunity to spend a few days getting to know the Kino Border Initiative (KBI) work aimed at dignifying migration. In Sonora, in addition to accommodation, the shelter provides food, legal and psychosocial support, and a safe space for migrant children. People recognise this work as hopeful and dignifying for their life project.
Being there allowed us to dialogue with accompaniers and migrants, many internally displaced persons from Mexico. Migrants expressed their barriers concerning the new CBP-one application -- designed to obtain an appointment at a port of entry to enter the United States legally. Among the barriers are technological failures of the application, the allocation of appointments in places far from their current location, the lack of adequate mobile phones and internet access, and the limited application period to grant appointments, among others. Added to this is the discretion of immigration agents to allow people to access the asylum process in the United States.
It should be noted that the application is another measure that adds to the attempts to contain and control migration with questionable results. Observing people's barriers, fears and needs, KBI's commitment to dignify migration (MigrationWithDignity) and to continue to insist on preventing the dismantling of international protection systems becomes imperative. Many people continue to flee violence and threats to their lives, which is why we insist that the externalisation of the border and restrictive migration policies kill, as we saw in the tragic death of 38 people in the immigration detention centre in Ciudad Juarez on 28 March.
Protected migration is a matter of humanity and dignity.
Source : redjesuitaconmigranteslac.
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