Washington, DC – Interfaith Immigration Coalition partner Hope Border Institute of El Paso, Texas released its latest report, “No Queda de Otra: An Exploration of the Root Causes of Migration to the Southern Border.” Based on dozens of interviews with migrants and asylum seekers in Ciudad Juárez, the research finds that climate change and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are accelerating the underlying causes of forced migration from Central America and Mexico.
The report contains summaries of the main drivers of forced migration as reported by those interviewed, including threats, extortion, gender-based violence, impacts of the pandemic, and climate displacement. Also included are case studies highlighting individual migrants’ stories and policy recommendations to the Biden administration and Congress.
Key findings:
- Hurricanes Eta and Iota, which hit large swathes of Central America in November 2020, destroyed homes and crops and set back people who were already experiencing extreme poverty. Those already living on the edge cited the hurricanes as the final straw in their decision to migrate.
- Approximately 60% of those interviewed were internally displaced in their country of origin before attempting to migrate to the US. Internal relocation was only a temporary solution for many because it did not resolve the original pressures they faced at home.
- Nearly all of those interviewed said their income in their country of origin was insufficient to cover basic needs. Families with special healthcare needs experienced added levels of poverty and insecurity. The pandemic had an almost universally negative impact on personal economic security as a result of lockdowns and market closures.
- Women and LGBTQ+ individuals experienced both generalized and gender-based violence in their country of origin and along the migratory route.
- A high number of internally displaced Mexicans were encountered in the interview process who were fleeing war-like conflict in Michoacán between cartels, characterized by extreme violence and widespread forced conscription of men and boys.
- Interviewees experienced kidnapping, violence, and family separation at the border as a result of the Title 42 expulsion policy.
As a co-founder of the Root Causes Initiative and member organization of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, Hope Border Institute is committed to serving and listening to people on the move, following the lead of faith groups in Central America and Mexico and proposing solutions to the Biden administration and Congress that respect both the right to migrate and the right to thrive at home.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm.
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