The Journey Through Central America — CENTRAL AMERICAN VOICES

Researcher & Writer: Jorge Paz Reyes

Editor: Jocelyn Monroy-Saavedra

Graphics: Alejandra Quiroz

A New Wave of Migrants: The Journey Through Central America

In recent months, the U.S has seen a new wave of migrants coming from Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti. Coming primarily from South America, their journey through Central America is marked by a dense jungle, insecurity, and pushback.

A New Trend in Migration

In recent months, Central America has become the main corridor for thousands of migrants. This shift in migration patterns has moved the attention away from the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduran) and placed a greater emphasis on South America and the Caribbean.

In 2021, there was an increase in refugees and migrants crossing the region from 20,000 to 130,000 last year predominantly from Haiti.
This year, it is estimated that half of the migrants are from Venezuela, 24% from Africa, 20% from the Caribbean, and 11% from Asia.
It is estimated that 200,000 migrants will have passed through the region by the end of 2022.
Venezuelans surpass Guatemalans and Hondurans to become the second-largest nationality after Mexicans among migrants currently crossing the U.S border.

The Darien Gap

The journey through Central America begins with the Darien Gap, a 60-mile-wide stretch of tropical rainforest, steep mountains, and rivers at the border of Colombia and Panama. Migrants often leave from the coastal towns of Colombia and travel in groups through the inhospitable terrains of the Darien province. The journey through the jungle takes around 10 days and migrants often come out dehydrated, hungry, and in dire need of medical attention.
The presence of organized crime in the region has worsened the conditions with migrants often getting robbed and sexually assaulted. Migrants often describe the crossing of the Darien Gap as one of the most traumatizing experiences of their lives. In 2021, 55 bodies were recovered from the jungle.

The Network of Buses

On the other side of the Darien Gap, migrants are received by a number of organizations such as UNHCR and Doctors without Borders but their journey continues through a network of buses.

After Panama, their next stop is Costa Rica. From there, migrants either settle in the local communities or continue their journey up north. Local authorities in Costa Rica have reported that in recent years they have received about 200,000 applications for asylum and the process takes more than 8 years (WOLA). In Nicaragua, migrants who cross the border are required to pay a $150 transit fee, which forces many migrants to work in Costa Rica until they collect the money. Many Cubans are able to enter by plane due to Nicaraguan-Cuban diplomatic relations and their journey up north usually tends to be easier due to higher economic resources. In Honduras, migrants claimed to be abused by intercity buses, which usually charge migrants double the price. In Guatemala, authorities have disbanded multiple caravans. In September 2022, the Guatemalan government broke up a caravan of 400 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti. They only allowed 121 people to continue their journey and returned the rest to Honduras due lack of documentation for asylum. From Guatemala, some migrants are able to take planes to the U.S. Southern Border others continue their journey by foot and bus.

It is estimated that the total price for the journey through Central America to the US Southern Border ranges from $5,000 to $15,000.

Republican States & Title 42

Once at the US Southern border, migrants and refugees are not guaranteed asylum. Title 42, a Trump-era policy still in place, has prevented hundreds of migrants and refugees from seeking asylum. For those who have managed to enter the U.S, their journey continues as Republican governors have organized trips to send migrants to democratic states. In June, Florida governor Ron DeSanti created a program to ship migrants out of state to democratic states up north. This past September, Gov. DeSantis used that same program to arrange private planes to Venezuelan migrants from San Antonio, Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Migrants claimed that they were tricked into boarding the planes and no previous information about the plan was given.

SUMMARY

New trends of migration have moved attention away from the Northern Triangle, and focused on the journey from Panama all the way to the U.S Southern Border of Haitian and Venezuelan migrants.

🚌The Darien Gap:

It is reported that around 150,000 Venezuelan migrants have crossed the Colombia-Panama border, through the 60-mile-wide stretch of tropical rainforest, steep mountains known as the Darien Gap. The passage through the jungle is said to be one the most difficult parts of the journey, due to the tough terrain and the local organized crime.

🚌Network of Buses:

Once the migrants are able to pass through the Darien Gap their journey continues through a network of buses. Going from border town to border, they often are met with backlash from local authorities of the respective country, though some local governments are providing assistance to facilitate their transit. Through the journey, Venezuelan and Haitian migrants often found themselves being robbed, upcharge, and in dangerous conditions.

🚌The U.S Southern Border:

After their 2,000 mile journey, migrants are received at the U.S southern border with resistance, many being rejected for asylum on Title 42 grounds. The U.S and Mexico have agreed on a joint plan to control the flow of Venezuelan migrants, Mexico taking in all those migrants rejected by the U.S. They have also been in the middle of a partisan battle between Democrats and Republicans, with Republican governors sending them with no previous information to Democratic-led cities.