UPROOTED in CENTRAL AMERICA and MEXICO Migrant and Refugee Children Face a Vicious Cycle of Hardship and Danger B UPROOTED in CENTRAL AMERICA and MEXICO

UNICEF CHILD ALERT August 2018 UPROOTED IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO Migrant and refugee children face a vicious cycle of hardship and danger B UPROOTED IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO UNICEF CHILD ALERT August 2018 UPROOTED IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO Migrant and refugee children face a vicious cycle of hardship and danger Migration routes in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico UNITED STATES San Diego Calexico Tijuana Mexicali Nogales El Paso Ensenada Nogales Ciudad Juarez Hermosillo Piedras Eagle Pass Chihuahua Negras Laredo Nuevo Laredo Monclova McAllen Brownsville Puerto MEXICO Reynosa Gulf of San Carlos Matamoros Culiacán Mexico La Paz Mazatlan Tampico CUBA San Luis Potosi Puerto Vallarta Caribbean MEXICO CITY Veracruz Manzanillo Chetumal Sea Puebla Belize City Acayucan Tenosique El Ceibo BELIZEBELIZE Salina Cruz Tapachula BELMOPAN HONDURAS Puerto Escondido GUATEMALA San Pedro Sula Omoa PACIFIC Puerto CITY Madero TEGUCIGALPA OCEAN SAN NICARAGUA GUATEMALA SALVADOR EL SALVADOR COSTA RICA PANAMA Note: This map does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers. COVER: Eliasa, 15, and his mother are reunited at a government reception shelter in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, after his deportation from Mexico. © UNICEF/UN0217796/BINDRA UNICEF – CHILD ALERT AUGUST 2018 UPROOTED IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO 1 OVERVIEW: In the best interest of the migrant child “I asked my father if we could leave our country because the gang was going to kill me.” – A 15-year-old girl from Honduras seeking asylum in Guatemala In the countries of northern Central America – countries of origin. If they are sent back, they are likely El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras – and in Mexico, to experience an intensification of the factors – violence, gang-related violence, organized crime, extortion, poverty, lack of opportunities, stigmatization, social poverty and limited access to quality education and exclusion and internal displacement – that drove them to social services are part of daily life for millions of chil- migrate in the first place. dren. Each day, families facing these harsh conditions make the painful decision to leave their homes, com- The end result is, essentially, a circle of danger and hard- munities and countries in search of safety and a more ship that violates the best interests of children and young hopeful future. Some move within the region, while people throughout the migration and deportation cycle. others head north to Mexico and the United States. This Child Alert takes stock of the root causes of Yet many of the families trying to escape their desperate irregular migration from northern Central America and circumstances experience a host of new problems and Mexico. It examines the array of challenges and dangers traumas once they turn to irregular migration routes. faced by migrant and refugee children and families These families must navigate a long, uncertain journey in during the arduous process of migration and return. And which they risk being preyed upon by traffickers or other it employs evidence and interviews with some of these criminals, or losing their bearings in a mountain pass or children and families – as well as non-governmental desert while they try to avoid the authorities. They may organizations and government partners – to highlight be apprehended in transit or upon reaching their desti- workable solutions that can protect the lives and nations, only to be detained and then returned to their well-being of uprooted children. In this Child Alert 1. The root causes of migration ............................................................ page 4 2. The migration journey ...................................................................... page 8 3. Detention and family separation ...................................................... page 12 4. The challenge of reintegration ......................................................... page 17 5. Call to action for uprooted children ................................................. page 21 UNICEF – CHILD ALERT AUGUST 2018 2 UPROOTED IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO © UNICEF/UN0217756/BINDRA A pastor shows his devotion to protecting children and young people SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS – Pastor Arnold of 18. He says gangs often recruit children to carry Linares is the director of Puerta a las Misiones, a out executions on their behalf because they know youth outreach centre in Rivera Hernandez, one of that young children will not be sent to prison. Gangs the most dangerous neighbourhoods in San Pedro in the area are also known to bring children to their Sula. Rivera Hernandez is split up into five smaller casas locas (crazy houses), where they are forced to districts that are under the control of different witness drug use, executions and sexual relations. gangs. The gangs here have usurped much of Linares and his team at the outreach centre, which the local authority that typically would be held by is supported by UNICEF, provide children with municipal bodies. activities and creative outlets to keep them out “This community has been plagued by gangs, of gangs. Linares recalls one of the gang leaders violence and poverty,” says Linares. “There are also actually supporting these efforts. no opportunities here, which is why people want to “Please keep the children busy,” the leader said, leave.” “or else we will.” Linares estimates that around half of the gang members in Rivera Hernandez are under the age ABOVE: A mural advocates peace in Rivera Hernandez, a neighbourhood in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, that suffers from rampant gang violence and a high homicide rate. UNICEF – CHILD ALERT AUGUST 2018 UPROOTED IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO 3 There are proven approaches that help alleviate the root causes of irregular and forced migration; protect migrant and refugee children in transit and upon reaching their destinations; provide children with access to essential services throughout the migration journey; and ensure that deportation and return take place only when they are in the best interest of the child. As this Child Alert demonstrates: nnSolutions must address the root causes of nnKeeping families together and supporting irregular and forced migration from northern alternatives to detention are in the best interests Central America and Mexico, including poverty, of migrant and refugee children. Detention gang violence and a lack of educational and and family separation by migration authorities economic opportunities. Addressing these causes are deeply traumatizing experiences that can will help reduce the factors that push families adversely affect a child’s long-term development. and children to leave their homes in search of safety or a more hopeful future via irregular and nnEven in countries with stretched resources, it is dangerous migration routes. Stricter border possible to implement policies, provide services control measures do not effectively deter irregular and make investments that effectively support migration but do increase the unnecessary refugee and migrant children – in their countries suffering of migrants. In many cases, forcible of origin, as they cross borders, upon reaching return to their countries of origin leave migrants their destinations and if they are returned. in even worse circumstances than before – Strong child protection systems are pivotal in increasing the likelihood that they will take the identifying children at risk of forced migration or risk of migrating again. displacement, and ensuring that returned migrant children receive appropriate protection and nnGovernments must adopt procedures and support in their reintegration. safeguards ensuring that migrant and refugee children and families have access to the nnBut while UNICEF-supported programmes protections afforded them by international in northern Central America and Mexico are law – and that they are not being sent back benefiting many young migrants, refugees and to environments where their lives or physical returnees, many other such initiatives are needed integrity are threatened. Under the internationally – and all of these efforts would have to be scaled agreed principle of ‘non-refoulement’, authorities up enormously to meet the challenges facing the are prohibited from returning people under such region’s children at risk. circumstances. UNICEF – CHILD ALERT AUGUST 2018 4 UPROOTED IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO 1. The root causes of migration Every day, children and families from El Salvador, 28 per cent said family reunification was their primary Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico* leave their homes motivation. and communities to set off on the perilous journey northward. The decision to leave is often a wrench- Families’ hopes for the future – everyday aspirations for ing one shaped by an interplay of factors – including their children’s safety and security, a higher standard grinding poverty, the pervasive threat of violence, an of living, a decent job – also influence their decisions appalling lack of educational opportunities for children about where and when to migrate. and a profound desire to reunite with family members who have already migrated. UNICEF offices in northern Central America and Mexico partner with government authorities, civil Underscoring the latter point, in a 2016 registry of society organizations, schools and others to improve migrant children and adolescents who had been the lives of children and families whose untenable returned to Honduras, 31.5 per cent

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