Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on Wednesday, criticizing asylum and migrant protections in Latin America. The report outlined “poor regularization and integration policies” within the region that compel many migrants to attempt perilous journeys into Central and North America.
HRW’s report focuses on Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru, stating that “restrictive timelines, complex procedures, onerous document requirements, and administrative delays,” combined with the “absence of clear social and economic integration strategies,” are driving migrants northward through the dangerous Darién Gap.
The report proposes three regional actions to mitigate the issue: granting temporary and renewable protections to all Haitians and Venezuelans, reducing or eliminating burdensome visa requirements, and creating an “equitable regional mechanism” for cost-sharing and addressing migrant needs.
The report responds to the significant number of migrants from Haiti, Venezuela, South America, and Africa attempting to cross the Darién Gap, a dense jungle area on the Colombia-Panama border where migrants face serious abuses, including sexual violence.
As migration through the Darién Gap has surged, the United States and Canada have tightened controls, exacerbating the crisis. The US has banned asylum seekers who enter illegally and financed Panama’s repatriation efforts. Similarly, Canada has capped temporary immigration visas due to resource concerns. Mexico has called on the US and Canada for additional support to address the migration crisis in Latin America.
For a more in-depth look, visit JURIST.