Visions and Perceptions Regarding Refuge in Central and North America : Mexico in the World

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1 Visions and Perceptions Regarding Refuge in Central and North America : Mexico in the World Rodolfo Casillas R. October 2017

2 Considerations From , international migrants represented 2.9% of the world population; by 2010 they represented 3.1%. The rate of international migration has grown steadily throughout the world: between , migration grew by 38%. The international environment stimulates migration. Due to the economic crisis of 2008, for example, migration grew. In 2000, there was 12,129,572 million refugees under ACNU s portfolio. However, by 2016, the total increased to 17,183,352 million refugees. Several countries in America and Europe revise existing immigration laws largely due to public security concerns.

3 Considerations Specific to Mexico Mexico counts with one migration law since Before then, there was only migratory dispositions expressed in one General Population Law. Within a 7 year window, more than 70,000 migrants were kidnapped in Mexico. 43 nationalities involved. A salient issue in Mexico is migration to the United States. Mexico is the anteroom of access in the south-north continental migratory route, which accounts for the largest undocumented migration flux in the world. Chiapas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Oaxaca and Tamaulipas, the five states where kidnapping is most prevalent, also serve as strategic transit points for migratory routes. 95% of the victims come from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

4 CONCERNS FROM THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT International migration affects Mexico s relationship with the United States, especially given the upcoming renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).? THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF REFUGEE SEEKERS. THE INCLUSION OF DISGUISED MEMBERS FROM THE MARAS GANG. NEGATIVE IMPACT ON GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. What is the reaction of the social actors and institutions, national, and international, when it comes to providing humanitarian aid to the migrant applicants? Solicit the Mexican government s La Comision Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados (Comar) to foster and provide more financing. What reaction does this garner from the Mexican government? Thinking the majoritarian narrative is, in fact, true: there will be a high influx of immigrants and the Mara will cause internal problems.

5 STATISTICAL DESCRIPTIONS Statistical Descriptions of the Foreign Resident Population in Mexico, Including Refugees 1. Historically, foreigners never accounted for 1% of the total population in Mexico. 2. The total of foreign born in Mexico is 1,007,063, or 0.83% of the total population. 3. The majority of foreigners in Mexico are US born, with 739,168 people (0.61%). 4. Guatemala ranks second with 42,874 people (0.04%), absolutes and relatives very distant from the US population. 5. Honduras (14,544) and El Salvador (10,594) would take the 9th or 10th place with a 0.01%, respectively in absolute terms. These figures are in close proximity to each other, they are very distant from the foreign born majorities previously cited.

6 At a global scale, for every 100 refugees there are 10 requests for refugee recevied and 2 requests accepted. The number of refugees has increased by 5,053,953 millon. The number of refugee seekers increased to 987,555 million. The number of accepted refugee applications increased to 353,806 million. Refugees and Refugee Seekers in the World, This speaks of a severe disparity between the high case load of refuge seekers and the low rates of acceptance.

7 Country of Origin and Refugee Reception Worldwide In 2016, the main countries of origin for incoming refugees were In 2016, Asia hosted 36.14% of the total refugee population. Syria, % Afghanistan, 13.4 % South Sudan, 3.71% The main receiving countries were Turkey, 16.69% Pakistan, 7.87% Lebanon, 5.89% Iran, 5.69%

8 Countries of Origin and Refugee Host Countries Worldwide In 2016, Europe received the majority of all refuge applications. Most applicants that sought refuge in Europe applied to the following countries: Most refugees come from Germany, 35.82% Italy, 5.90% Syria, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Albania, Sudan and Afghanistan. The American continent and the United States in particular, received 9.83% of all refuge applications submitted. Most applicants to the United States were from El Salvador and Mexico.

9 TRENDS IN THE REFUGE APPLICATIONS TO AMERICA Received a total of 2,015,018 refuge applications. From 2000 to 2016, AMERICA received and accepted 12% of refuge applications worldwide. (10.82% of the world total). Accepted 613,885 of the total refugee applications. (16.67% of the word total).

10 Figures Regarding Refuge Seekers in the United States and Canada Relative to other countries in America, the United States and Canada are overwhelmingly sought after in the refuge process. During 2016, the United States received 204,721 refuge applications 9.83% of the world total and 74.10% of the continent total. Of these, the United States accepted 20,332 applications 3.64% of the world total and 54.55% of the continental total. Canada received 23,529 refuge applications 1.13% of the world total and 8.51% of the continental total. Of these, Canada accepted 10,160 applications 31.82% of the world total and 27.26% of the continental total.

11 Trends Regarding Refuge Seekers from CENTRAL AMERICA From , Central Americans represented no more than 3.5% of refuge seekers at a continental level and 0.5% worldwide. From , the region received a total of 68,818 refuge applications. 3.41% of the continental total and 0.37% worldwide.

12 A numerical break down of the applications received from : COSTA RICA: 32,370 refuge applications received in the following distribution: 47.04% of the regional total 1.61% of the continental total 0.17% of the world total. MÉXICO: 20,223 refuge applications received in the following distribution: 29.39% of the regional total 1% of the continental total 0.11% of the world total. EL SALVADOR: 236 refuge applications received in the following distribution: 0.33% of the regional total.

13 Refuge Applications Received in Central America 2016 The Central American region received 20,383 refuge applications (0.98% of the world total and 7.38% of the continental total). A numerical breakdown of the countries that received the greatest number of refuge applications in 2016: 1) México: 8,732 refuge applications received in the following distribution: 42.84% of the regional total 3.16% of the continental total 0.42% of the world total Refuge seekers to Mexico were predominantly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. 2) Costa Rica: 5,834 refuge applications received in the following distribution: 28.62% of the regional total 2.11% of the continental total 0.28% of the world total The main countries of origin seeking refuge in Costa Rica were El Salvador, Venezuela and Colombia. 3) Panamá: 3,457 refuge applications received in the following distribution: 16.96% of the regional total 1.25% of the continental total 0.16% of the world total The main countries of origin seeking refuge in Panama were Colombia, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

14 Refuge Applications Accepted in Central America 2016 THE CENTRAL AMERICAN region accepted a total of 5,961 refuge applications (15.99% of the continental total and 1.06% of the world total). Numerical breakdown of the countries that accepted a significant number of refuge applications: 1) MÉXICO: 3,260 refuge applications accepted in the following distribution: 54.69% of the regional total 8.74% of the contiental total 0.58% of the world total The main countries of origin were Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. 2) COSTA RICA: 594 refuge applications accepted in the following distribution: 9.96% of the regional total 1.59% of the contiental total 0.10% of the world total The main countries of origin were from El Salvador, Venezuela and Colombia. 3) GUATEMALA: 68 refuge applications accepted in the following distribution 1.14% of the regional total 0.18% of the continental total 0.01% of the world total The main countries of origin were from Colombia, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

15 COMMENTARY AND RECOMENDATIONS ON MEXICO S SITUATION In the region, the relative volume of refuge seekers is greater in Mexico than it is in Central America, largely due to the circumstances of being a transit and destination country for international migration fluxes. There is no statistical evidence to assume an exponential increase in the demand for refuge. This does not deny the seriousness of insecurity in several Central American countries, particularly those that look for refuge. International migration within and throughout Mexico, including refugee migration, exposes a grave humanitarian crisis characterized by insecurity. Delinquency rings criminalize the niche of international migrants. The migrants receive the effects of, but are not the cause of delinquency although some of them do end up becoming subordinate members of organized crime groups in Mexico. Due to the low acceptance ratio of refuge applications detailed previously, the rejected refuge population becomes a part of the existing transmigratory flux to the US and Canada. Given the origin of various international migratory fluxes that either arrive to or pass by Mexico, (the majority of these coming from Central America), it is higly recomended for Mexico, independent from the internal political measures that it should be taking, actively favor regional programs and focuses. The Comisión Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados (Comar) should apply their social demographic registrations to the refugee population, publicize them, and establish follow up mechanisms that will facilitate scientific analysis and elaboration of public politics. This will ultimately foster a better relationship between refugees and the population as a whole.