MIGRATION FLOWS REPORT IN , NORTH AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN

N°7 (APRIL-JUNE, 2018)

IOM REGIONAL OFFICE IN SAN JOSE -

The data is responsability of the sources. MIGRATION FLOWS REPORT IN CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN N°7 (APRIL-JUNE, 2018)

MESOAMERICAN MIGRANTS ENTRIES OF NICARAGUAN MIGRANTS TO COSTA RICA Regarding regular entries of Nicaraguan migrants into Costa Rica from January to April of 2018 a growing trend is observed, however, from April to May this number dropped by 41%, registering 15.873 less entries. Furthermore, until June 17th, half of the Nicaraguan income recorded the previous month had not yet been completed.

38,807 32,771 30,737

22,934

10,405

feb 18 mar 18 apr 18 may 18 17 - jun 18

Source: Costa Rican General Directorate for Migration and Foreigners.

ASYLUM REQUESTS BY NICARAGUANS IN COSTA RICA Asylum requests submitted by Nicaraguans during the first six months of 2018 drastically exceeded the total amount registered in 2017. Particularly, during the second quarter of 2018, 3,455 requests by Nicaraguans were registered, which represents 3,388 more requests than the total for 2017.

3,344

67 24 87 Total 2017 Apr 18 May 18 Jun 18

Source: Costa Rican General Directorate for Migration and Foreigners.

The data is responsability of the sources. IN THE PRESS: “COSTA RICA OPENS TWO SHELTERS TO ASSIST THOSE FLEEING THE CRISIS IN ”

Costa Rica’s Government -with support from IOM and UNHCR- provided two shelters to assist groups of people leaving Nicaragua and migrating to Costa Rica. These shelters have capacity to accommodate up to 2,000 Queues at the border of Costa Rica persons between both. with Nicaragua/AFP Source: La Nación. https://www.nacion.com/el-pais/politica/costa-rica-abre-dos-albergues-para-quienes- huyen/PWYDVPI44NFANCUOMB3RM3IAVM/story/

CENTRAL AMERICAN MIGRANTS DETAINED BY MEXICAN AUTHORITIES Regarding the detention events1 of Central American migrants before Mexican immigration authorities, a general increase by 59% is observed or 10.229 more detention events registered for these nationalities when comparing the months of April to June 2018 with the same period of 2017. The largest increase is showed in the case of with a growth of 88%, followed by the number of Guatemalans’ detentions that grew by 43.7%. is the only country from Central America that showed a decrease in this figure during the abovementioned period.

Apr - Jun 2017 Apr - Jun 2018 13,310 11,068

7,703 7,078

2,872

2,375

9 19 2 4 159 285 4 1 Costa Rica Nicaragua Panama

17,330 TOTAL 27,559 Source: Mexican Secretariat of Interior. 1. The term “events” means that there can include several detentions per person. The data is responsability of the sources. MIGRATION FLOWS REPORT IN CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN N°7 (APRIL-JUNE, 2018)

BOYS AND GIRLS FROM THE NORTHERN COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA (NCCA) DETAINED BY MEXICAN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES The number of detention events of boys and girls coming from the NCCA in has grown when comparing the months of April to June 2018 with the same months of 2017. Honduras shows the largest increase in this period, registering 2.030 more detentions or a rise of 210.4%. apr - jun 17 apr - jun 18

3,128 2,995

1,628 965 666 402

Guatemala Honduras El Salvador Source: Mexican Secretariat of Interior. FAMILY UNIT2 APPREHENSIONS AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER OF THE The number of Guatemalan family units’ apprehensions registered until June 2018 exceeded the total registered for the fiscal year3 2017 by 8.732 cases; likewise, Honduran family units’ apprehensions for this period outnumbered the total for 2017 by 2.085 cases. However, in the case of Salvadoran nationals, the cases recorded during this fiscal year are only 35% of the total accounted for the fiscal year 2017.

FY 2017 FY 2018 (oct 17 - jun 18)

33,389

24,122 24,657 24,451 22,366

8,462

2,217 1,565

El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico

Source: US Customs and Border Protection.

2. Family Unit represents a family group consisting of at least one adult and a child or adolescent traveling together (either a child under 18, a parent or legal guardian). 3. The fiscal year in the United States begins on October 1st and ends on September 30th.

The data is responsability of the sources. FAMILY UNITS INADMISSIBLE4 AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES The amount of family units coming from the NCCA and Mexico declared as inadmissible until June 2018 already exceeded the total amount registered for the fiscal year 2017, except for El Salvador.

FY 2017 FY 2018 (oct 17 - jun 18) 13,147

9,730 8,416

6,058 6,353 3,817 4,195 2,924

El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico

Source: US Customs and Border Protection. APPREHENSIONS OF UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT BOYS AND GIRLS FROM THE NCCA AND MEXICO AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES

Missing a few days to complete the Fiscal Year 2018, the apprehensions of FY 2017 FY 2018 (oct 17 - jun 18) Guatemalan boys and girls have already outgrown the total of the fiscal year El Salvador 2017 by 2.822 cases. On the other 9,143 hand, Honduras is only 5 cases away 3,279 from exceeding the amount registered in the fiscal year 2017. On the contrary, El Guatemala Salvador only registered 35.9% of the total 14,827 cases accounted for in the fiscal year 2017, 17,649 while in the case of Mexico until June 2018, 86.5% of the total for the fiscal year 2017 was registered. Honduras 7,784 7,780

Mexico 8,877 Source: US Customs and Border Protection. 7,682

4. Individuals who are inadmissible are not permitted by law to enter or remain in the United States.

The data is responsability of the sources. MIGRATION FLOWS REPORT IN CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN N°7 (APRIL-JUNE, 2018)

UNACCOMPANIED BOYS AND GIRLS FROM THE NCCA AND MEXICO INADMISSIBLE AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES

The cases recorded as of June 2018, represent 93.7% of the total registered in the fiscal year 2017, still remaining three 6,994 6,554 months until the end of the fiscal year 2018.

FY 2017 FY 2018 (oct 17 - jun 18)

Source: US Customs and Border Protection.

OUTCOMES OF DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS5 FOR NATIONALS OF THE NCCA AND MEXICO IN IMMIGRATION COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES

The deportation proceedings completed for Guatemalans showed the highest percentage growth from February to June, increasing by 57%, however, people of Mexican nationality registered the highest number of deportation proceedings completed in these months reaching 12,562 cases in these four months. In the case of El Salvador and Honduras, the increase during these months was of 56.8% and 55.2% respectively.

oct 17 - feb 18 oct 17 - jun 18 37,216

24,654

20,246

15,958 13,168 12,897 10,279 8,400

El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico

Source: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

5. Counts are based upon each case an Immigration Court completes and the date of the judge’s decision or administrative closure. The data shows the figures for the issuance of orders for removal or voluntary return.

The data is responsability of the sources. MIGRANTS WHO WERE RETURNED6 TO THE NCCA

During the first half of 2018 the number jan - jun 17 jan - jun 18 of migrants returned to Guatemala and Honduras showed an increase of 64.5% El Salvador and 55.6% respectively compared to the 15,143 same period of 2017. On the contrary, 12,134 returns to El Salvador declined by 19.9% from January to June 2018 compared to the Guatemala same months of 2017. 28,874 47,502

Honduras 23,503 Source: Human Mobility Information Management 36,580 Initiative in the Northern Triangle, IOM.

REFUGEE ADMISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MIGRANTS FROM THE NCCA admissions in the United States for nationals of the NCCA showed a generalized decrease during the first half of 2018 compared to the same period of 2017; except in the case of Hondurans who register 12 more refugee admissions. For Salvadorans the decrease when comparing both periods is by 34.2%. In total, a fall of 29% is recorded.

641 jan - jun 17 jan - jun 18 TOTAL 455 570

375

49 34 31 37

El Salvador Guatemala Honduras

Source: Bureau of Population, and Migration, USA.

6. IOM defines returned migration as “The movement of a person returning to his/her country of origin or habitual residence usually after spending at least one year in another country. This return may or may not be voluntary. Return migration includes voluntary repatriation.”

The data is responsability of the sources. MIGRATION FLOWS REPORT IN CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN N°7 (APRIL-JUNE, 2018)

VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS ARRIVALS OF VENEZUELANS IN PANAMA FROM JANUARY TO JUNE 2017 AND 2018 Arrivals of Venezuelan migrants in Panama jan - jun 17 during the first half of 2018 decreased by 259,941 49% compared to the first six months of the previous year. jan - jun 18 132,519 Source: National Migration Service of Panama. REGULARIZATION7 OF VENEZUELANS IN PANAMA Venezuelans Regularizations of Venezuelan migrants in total 2017 Panama from January to June 2018 account 15,408 for 46% of the total regularizations obtained in the country, followed by Colombians Venezuelans jan - jun 2018 and Nicaraguans, however, the difference between both nationalities is more than 11,203 7.000 regularizations. Additionally, in the All nationalities 2018 first half of the year this number already represents 72.7% of the total regularizations 24,288 of Venezuelans in 2017. Source: National Migration Service of Panama. DEPORTATIONS AND VOLUNTARY RETURNS8 OF VENEZUELANS IN PANAMA

The number of deportations and voluntary 3,839 returns of Venezuelans registered until June 2018 exceeded the figure reported until June 2017 by 816.9%, which indicates an increase of 2,026 more cases for 2018. 2,274 Additionally, the figure reported until June of this year represents 59.2% of the total number of aliens deported and voluntarily returned in Panama. 248

jan - jun 17 jan - jun 18 Total para todas las nacionalidades Source: National Migration Service of Panama. jan - jun 18

7. Regularizations correspond to the Ordinary and Extraordinary Permits approved including the Decrees 167 and 168. 8. Regulation of Law N.3 that creates the National Migration Service of Panama defines voluntary return as “the authorization granted to the irregular migrant to leave the country, after payment of the corresponding administrative sanctions and the costs of moving to the country of destiny”. The data is responsability of the sources. ASYLUM APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY VENEZUELANS IN COSTA RICA

During the second quarter of 2018, asylum 3,064 applications of Venezuelans in Costa Rica increased by 15.5% compared to the first quarter of 2018. In the first six months of 918 1,060 2018, these applications are already 64.6% of the total registered during 2017. jan - mar 18 apr - jun 18 Total 2017 Source: Costa Rican General Directorate for Migration and Foreigners.

IN THE PRESS: “IOM ENABLES AN ASSISTANCE TELEPHONE LINE FOR VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS IN COSTA RICA” IOM’s office in Costa Rica has set up a free telephone line to offer assistance to highly vulnerable Venezuelan migrants. Through this line, IOM facilitates access to basic services. This initiative is part of the Regional Action Plan to Strengthen the Response to Venezuelan Outflows in the Americas and the Caribbean.

Source: IOM. http://costarica.iom.int/site/news/la-oim-lanza-l%C3%ADnea-gratuita-para- atenci%C3%B3n-migrantes-venezolanos-en-costa-rica

PERMANENT RESIDENT CARDS ISSUED IN MEXICO FOR VENEZUELANS The permanent resident cards issued to Venezuelans in Mexico from April to June 2018 showed an increase of 81.7% compared to the same quarter of 2017, since 600 more cards were issued in this period for 2018. The biggest difference was observed in April, when the cards issued increased by 120.4% compared to the previous year and 218 more cards issued were registered.

2017 2018 481 454 399 295 258 181

april may june 734 TOTAL 1,334

Source: Mexican Secretariat of Interior. The data is responsability of the sources. MIGRATION FLOWS REPORT IN CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN N°7 (APRIL-JUNE, 2018)

OUTCOMES OF DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS FOR NATIONALS FROM IN IMMIGRATION COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES

The number of deportation proceedings 258 completed for Venezuelans in the immigration 235 courts of the United States until June 2018 already exceeded the total amount registered in 2017 by 23 cases or 9.8%.

FY 17 FY 18 (oct 17 - jun 18)

Fuente: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. ESTIMATES OF VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS IN COUNTRIES OF THE REGION9

País Número Condición migratoria Estimate approved by the Costa Rican General Directorate for Migration Costa Rica 25,000 and Foreigners. Includes migrants with regular and irregular status.

Venezuelan migrants with regular Dominican Republic 25,872 and irregular status registered by the Second National Survey of Immigrants.

Venezuelan migrants registered by the Immigration Department as of Guyana 1,919 September 2018. Does not include migrants with irregular status.

Venezuelan migrants with regular migration status registered by the Mexico 34,147 National Migration Institute as of June 2018.

Approximate approved by the National Migration Service. Reflects Venezuelan Panama 62,000 migrants regularized by the Decree 67 as of June 2018.

9. Figures authorized by the countries.

The data is responsability of the sources. EXTRA-REGIONAL MIGRANTS: AFRICANS Y ASIANS EXTRA-REGIONAL MIGRANTS DETAINED AT THE BORDER OF PANAMA WITH (DARIEN) The nationalities considered in the chart are the ones that have registered the most cases of irregular transit through Darien province. When comparing the figures from April to June of 2018 with the same months of 2017 a generalized growth trend is observed. India is the country that shows the most drastic change with an increase of 3,951.7% which represents 1,146 more cases registered. For nationals from Cameroon and Bangladesh, an increase of 281.8% and 264.6% respectively is shown, while Nepal registers a small increase of 15.6%.

apr - jun 17 apr - jun 18 1,175

463 276 319 127 210 55 29 Bangladesh Cameroon India Nepal Source: National Migration Service of Panama. EXTRA-REGIONAL MIGRANTS DETAINED BY MEXICAN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES Most of the extra-regional migrants’ nationalities show an increase in the number of detentions registered from April to June 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. However, in the case of Eritrea and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a slight decrease is observed of 13.2% and 16.3% respectively. In contrast, records of detained nationals from India show an increase of 471.2%, adding 1,145 more detentions. On the other hand, for those from Bangladesh, the increase was by 305.6%, followed by Nepal with an increase of 228.9% and Cameroon, which shows a 116% increase in this figure.

apr - jun 17 apr - jun 18 1,388

438 188 243 250 87 159 138 86 72 108 76

Democratic Cameroon Eritrea Republic of Bangladesh India Nepal the Congo

Source: Mexican Secretariat of Interior.

The data is responsability of the sources. MIGRATION FLOWS REPORT IN CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN N°7 (APRIL-JUNE, 2018)

REFUGEE ADMISSIONS FOR AFRICAN MIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES

During the first half of 2018, compared to the first six months of 2017, 3.162 less jan - jun 17 jan - jun 18 refugee admissions were registered for migrants coming from Africa. This drop 8,197 represents a decrease of 38.6% in the figure for 2018. 5,035

Source: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, USA.

OUTCOMES OF DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS FOR EXTRA-REGIONAL MIGRANTS IN IMMIGRATION COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES By June 2018, the three nationalities considered in the chart already reported a figure of deportation proceedings completed that exceeded that reported in the total of fiscal year 2017. During this period, the most notorious increase was the case of Eritrea which showed an increase of 36.3%, followed by Nigeria with 26.9%. However, India is the country that has exceeded the total of fiscal year 2017 by a greater amount, with 143 more deportations proceedings registered until now.

FY 17 FY (oct 17 - jun 18) 989

846

354 279 263 193

Nigeria Eritrea India

Source: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

The data is responsability of the sources. CUBAN AND HATIAN MIGRANTS CUBANS AND HAITIANS DETAINED AT THE BORDER OF PANAMA WITH COLOMBIA (DARIÉN) The number of Cubans detained in the Darien has decreased considerably during the first half of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, reporting 685 less cases, which is a 99% decrease. On the other hand, for Haitians 9 less cases were reported or a decrease of 39%.

692 jan - jun 2017 jan - jun 2018

23 14 7

Cubans Haitians

Source: National Migration Service of Panama.

CUBANS AND HAITIANS DETAINED BY MEXICAN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES The number of Cubans detained by Mexican immigration authorities slightly decreased by 6.1% when comparing the second quarter of 2018 with the same period of 2017. However, the reduction in detentions of Haitians is much more significant, since when comparing both periods a drop by 96.1% in the figure is observed.

apr - jun 17 apr - jun 18 390

115 108

15

Cubans Haitians Source: Mexican Secretariat of Interior.

The data is responsability of the sources. MIGRATION FLOWS REPORT IN CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN N°7 (APRIL-JUNE, 2018)

TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT RESIDENCE CARDS ISSUED IN MEXICO FOR CUBANS AND HAITIANS Temporary and permanent residence cards issued for Cuban and Haitian migrants show an increased when comparing the months of April to June of 2018 with the same months of 2017, except for the temporary residence cards issued for Cubans, which decreased by 36.3%. The most significant increase is in the case of temporary residence cards issued for Haitians.

1,481 apr - jun 17 apr - jun 18

943

594 474 380

20 23 69 temporary residence permanent residence temporary residence permanent residence cards issued for cards issued for cards issued for cards issued for Cuban migrants Cuban migrants Haitian migrants Haitian migrants

Source: Mexican Secretariat of Interior.

CUBANS DECLARED INADMISSIBLE AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES Although during the first quarter of 2017 there was a decrease in the number of Cubans declared inadmissible at the southwest border of the United States, when comparing the second quarter of 2018 with the same months of 2017 it shows a growth in 2018 of more than double, by 157.4% specifically. April was the month with the highest increase compared to 2017, registering 450 more inadmissible Cubans or an increase of 235.6%.

2017 2018 1,853

april 191 641

720 may 332 586

june apr - jun 17 apr - jun 18 197 626

Source: US Customs and Border Protection.

The data is responsability of the sources. HAITIANS DECLARED INADMISSIBLE AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES When comparing the months of April to June 2018 with the same months of 2017, a drop of just over a half in the number of inadmissible Haitians at the southwest border of the United States is shown. In April and May of 2018, 31 less cases were registered compared to the same months of last year, descending by more than 60%.

2017 2018 121

april 49 18 60 may 46 15

june apr - jun 17 apr - jun 18 26 27

Source: US Customs and Border Protection. OUTCOMES OF DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS FOR CUBAN AND HAITIAN NATIONALS IN IMMIGRATION COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES

During the fiscal year 2018, the deportation proceedings completed in the United States’ oct 17 - feb 18 oct 17 - jun 18 immigration courts for Cubans and Haitians 2,193 increased from February to June by 52.3% and 34.7% respectively; nevertheless, the data seem to show a decreasing trend. The 1,628 abovementioned trend can be observed when considering the fact that during the first four months of the fiscal year 2018, in 1,058 average 173 cases were completed monthly in the case of Cubans and 407 in the case of 695 Haitians. However, this average decreased from February to June to 90 cases for Cubans and 141 for Haitians.

Cuban migrants Haitian migrants

Source: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

The data is responsability of the sources. MIGRATION FLOWS REPORT IN CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN N°7 (APRIL-JUNE, 2018)

CREDITS:

DOCUMENT PREPARED BY THE IOM REGIONAL OFFICE FOR CENTRAL AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.

Edition: Rudi Maxwald, Regional Liaison and Policy Officer Elaboration and conceptualization: Mariana Chaves, Research Assistant Sofía Arce, Information and Statistics Design and layout: Ana Marcela Cerdas, Graphic Designer

IOM Regional Office for Central America, North America and the Caribbean Marcelo Pisani, Regional Director Jorge Gallo, Regional Communications Officer

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This report would not have been possible without the collaboration of Cristopher Gascón (Chief of Mission) and Andremar Galván from IOM Mexico; Jorge Peraza (Chief of Mission of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) and Antonio Meoño from IOM Guatemala, Marisol Calix and Evelyn IOM Honduras and the Information Management Initiative of Human Mobility in the Northern Triangle (NTMI) team; Roeland De Wilde (Head of Mission) and Mayvelline González from IOM Costa Rica; Santiago Paz (Head of Mission) and Rocío Dutary de IOM Panama. IOM is especially grateful to the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid, the Ministry of the Interior (Migration Policy Unit) of Mexico, General Directorate of Migration of Guatemala, to the National Institute of Migration - Honduras, the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration of Costa Rica, to the National Migration Service of Panama and the National Border Service of Panama.

www.rosanjose.iom.int @IOM_Caribbean /IOMCaribbean1