This archive report was first published on 29 July 2019.
Why American Cruelty Fails to Deter Migrants ¶
President Trump's proposal to deter migration from Central America by warning of harsh conditions in the US has been met with skepticism by two lawyers who have traveled across Honduras speaking about asylum laws.
On July 26, 2019, the US and Guatemala reached a bilateral agreement under which Guatemala would be designated as a safe third country, but this move is unlikely to stem the flow of migration, as Guatemala is not a safe country.
Two lawyers, Fernando Chang-Muy and Adam Garnick, traveled across Honduras this summer to inform potential asylum seekers of the legal obstacles they would face and the rights to which they are entitled if they chose to make the trip north.
At the beginning of each presentation, they asked attendees to raise their hand if they could name five protected grounds of asylum or if they had heard of the 'remain in Mexico' policy. Among all of their audiences, no one raised a hand.
The lawyers did not hide the harsh realities of the current asylum process, cautioning that asylum-seekers might be separated from their families, forced to wait for months in crime-ridden border towns in Mexico, placed in 'perreras' (literally, 'dog pounds'), and detained with no opportunity for bail.
Despite these warnings, the audiences did not seem discouraged. Instead, they discussed the sense of hopelessness that pervades their country, citing personal experiences of threats, extortion, and violence.
The lawyers argue that to actually deter migrants, America must go to the root of the problem, which means a recommitment to support Honduras and the other Central American countries producing the vast majority of asylum seekers.
They suggest that the US could back local civil society organizations doing exceptional work in job training, education, and community building, and provide extra aid aimed at reducing violence, strengthening infrastructure, and getting desperately needed medicines back into hospitals and books back into schools.
With a long-term commitment, the US can help ensure that the 'dream drawings' of the next generation of Hondurans include drawings of themselves as presidents, doctors, and firefighters in their home country.
