Mexico and Central America: a Delayed Encounter Mexico and Central America: a Delayed Encounter
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Mexico and Central America: A Delayed Encounter Mexico and Central America: A Delayed Encounter The surprise arrival of massive migrant contingents (known as “caravans”) to the border between Guatemala and Mexico constituted a watershed in the history of Central American migration to the United States through Mexican territory. This text is published by the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI) in order to contribute to the discussion in Mexico, in the United States and in Central America itself. The contribution of Central American social activists and academics with their local perspectives enhances and complements their Mexican counterparts’ reflections and proposals. Now is the time to undertake concrete measures for this delayed encounter. Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales Sierra Mojada 620-502, Lomas de Chapultepec, 11000 Ciudad de México. Tel. (55) 5202-3776 consejomexicano.org comexiac @comexi comexiac comexiac Mexico and Central America: A Delayed Encounter Board Mexico and Central America: A Delayed Encounter Chairman Luis Rubio Coordinator Gustavo Mohar Former Chairmen Enrique Berruga Authors Andrés Rozental Marco A. Alcázar Fernando Solana (†) Salvador Arriola Jaime Zabludovsky Oscar Chacón Jorge Durand Vice Presidents Yolanda González Cerdeira Sergio Alcocer Carlos Heredia Solange Márquez Demetrios G. Papademetriou Carlos Quesnel Board Members Mauricio Reyes Agustín Barrios Gómez Úrsula Roldán Carlos Camacho Joaquín Villalobos Magdalena Carral Beatriz Zepeda Eduardo Guerrero Enrique Hidalgo Editor and Compiler Eduardo Ibarrola Axel Cabrera Beatriz Leycegui Julio Madrazo Martha Mejía Lourdes Melgar Gustavo Mohar Vanessa Zárate Treasurer Timothy Heyman Technical Secretary and Legal Counsel Miguel Jáuregui Former Executive Director Mariana Campero Executive Director Verónica Ortiz Ortega The Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, COMEXI (by its acronym in Spanish— Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales), is a non-profit Civil Association dedicated to the study, analysis, and dialogue on international relations. Its goal is to generate proposals that contribute to decision-making and that —strategically— influence the definition and implementation of the public policies that affect Mexico. It also seeks to contribute effectively to Mexico’s impact and positioning in the world. The wealth of COMEXI lies in the talent of its constituency, consisting of more than 500 associates who are experts in various sectors and disciplines (scholars, members of the business community, public officials, diplomats, and opinion leaders). We also have participation of embassies, international organizations, and research centers dedicated to the study of the political, social, and economic life of the country. Mexico and Central America: A Delayed Encounter Contents Introduction 8 Luis Rubio → Foreword 9 Gustavo Mohar → An Overview of the Migrant Emergency Mexico and Central America: From Civil Wars to Plagues 14 Salvador Arriola → Mexico and Central America: Migrational Patterns, Processes and Circuits 21 Jorge Durand → Migration and Central American Violence 29 Joaquín Villalobos → Forced Migration: Corruption and Impunity in Guatemala 37 Úrsula Roldán → Honduras: Dark Times for the Right to Migrate and the Right to Not Migrate 42 Yolanda González Cerdeira → Belize in the Context of Central American Migration 48 Carlos Quesnel → Mexico and Central America: A Delayed Encounter Contents Sovereignty and Deep Bilateral and Regional Cooperation 53 Demetrios G. Papademetriou → Supremacist Hate, Elections and Cheapened Labor 65 Oscar Chacón → The Current State of the Southern Border More than Just a Border 72 Marco A. Alcázar → The Mexico-Guatemala Cross-Border Area in the Context of the Migrational Emergency 79 Beatriz Zepeda → The Political Economy of Development in Central America 85 Carlos Heredia → Mexican Private Investment in Central America: Contributing to Development 92 Mauricio Reyes → 97 About the authors → 105 Disclaimer → Mexico and Central America: A Delayed Encounter Introduction Luis Rubio One of the most pressing matters currently This work was carried out under Gustavo Mohar, a demanding Mexico’s attention in the international professional with considerable experience on the sphere is its relationship to the Northern Triangle: matter who rallied an exceptional group of experts the three Central American countries where the to analyze every element of the issue, beginning largest human mobilizations we have encountered with a careful description of the established border originated, seeking to traverse the country in order between Mexico and its Central American neighbors. to reach the United States. It is a common, ancestral The texts that constitute this editorial endeavor practice, but in the last year it has gained a political include the new migrational reality of the United connotation that has been exacerbated each day, States, followed by detailed, urgent analysis of the pitting Mexico against its northern neighbor and causes of migration not just from Central America, but threatening the viability of its own interests. from the Caribbean and from outside the continent, as well as the political economy and dynamics of the Thousands of Hondurans and Salvadorans join the phenomenon. Efforts that have been made to deal Guatemalans crossing their country to reach what with an extremely complex phenomenon are also they hope will be their employment destination analyzed. through Mexico. The text is published by the Mexican Council on There is nothing new in these migrational patters, Foreign Relations (COMEXI) in order to contribute which have been in place since the 19th century. to the discussion in Mexico, in the United States What is new is that they have become a source of and in Central America itself. It also explains and conflict now that the American government, headed summarizes the dilemmas in the region, analyzing its by its current president, denies entry to new migrants problems and pointing toward different options –all and intends to expel those who entered in the past. of them complicated– for Mexico to deal with in the This situation has created a new reality in Mexico’s near future. southern border, where the Mexican government is attempting to reduce the flow of migrants to avoid more problems with the American government. Mexico acts on President Trump’s threats of imposing tariffs on Mexican exports, the main driving force behind the country’s economy, unless the migrant flow from Central America is stopped. Foreword Gustavo Mohar The surprise arrival of massive migrant Additionally, the intermittent stability of its contingents (known as “caravans”) to the border governments and chronic concentration of wealth between Guatemala and Mexico constituted a explain, at least partially, the turbulences in the sub- watershed in the history of Central American migration region known as the Northern Triangle of Central to the United States through Mexican territory. America. This report, written at the initiative of Dr. Luis Rubio, Although the issue of migration is the axis around Chairman of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations which this report is centered, it is worth noting (COMEXI), has proven pertinent and opportune. I that, as a whole, these essays allow for a broader, am grateful for his request to coordinate the group more comprehensive approach to the relationship of distinguished specialists who enthusiastically between Mexico and Central America and the internal accepted our invitation to participate in this endeavor. circumstances of each of the actors involved. The contribution of Central American social activists and academics with their local perspectives enhances At the risk of omitting, biasing or neglecting relevant and complements their Mexican counterparts’ portions of their texts, I will now outline some of the reflections and proposals. One renowned expert main reflections put forth by the authors: in this enthralling subject presents an American social and academic perspective; an international » Attempts at Central American integration, conflict negotiator provides his experience given with Mexico’s participation, have taken place his considerable background working with Central since the early 80s up until the Comprehensive American avatars. Development Plan for Central America (PDI or Plan de Desarrollo Integral in Spanish) in 2019 Central American migration to Mexico is hardly a recent phenomenon. Nowadays, it is explained by » The border between Mexico, Guatemala and a continuous and conflictive social, economic and Belize is now a sub-regional labor, social and political situation in a region that has undergone civil commercial market. This is not widely known, and wars, foreign interference (even invasions) and now has not been encouraged by the three countries’ faces high levels of violence and insecurity. governments Mexico and Central America: A Delayed Encounter » Attention to Belize has been historically relegated » Are Mexico’s migrational containment measures by the Mexican authorities. As pointed out by the sustainable in the long term? Is it too audacious/ current Mexican ambassador, “it may be because naïve to expect Mexico to look south the way it it doesn’t cause problems like the ones we have looks north? with the Guatemalan border.” A new vision that acknowledges the strategic nature of our small » Four factors can explain the “Central American but important neighbor and boosts close ties wave:” (i) demography; (ii) weak, poor states;