27, June 2016 Refugees
Central American refugees attempting to
escape from conflict zones have been severely hampered in their efforts by a
tacit agreement between President Obama and Mexican President, Peña Nieto. The U.S. has funded Mexico with $86 million
to halt the upward migration. A large number of these refugees are forced
to work for cocaine gangs at the point of a gun threatened with certain death
(often including members of their families) if they refuse.
Sadly, Obama’s soaring rhetoric and
compassion on the plight of refugees does not match his behind the scene
policies. In practical terms we have successfully bribed the Mexican government
to do our dirty work in stemming the flow of refugees from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. This has undoubtedly
solved a political crisis but in humanitarian terms it has been a monumental
disaster for some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Many repatriated refugees face certain death
killed with the gang number carved on their chests as a warning to others. According to the Migration Policy Institute
the U.S. has deported 800,000 to Central America including 40,000 children.
Last year, Mexico accelerated its deportation program expelling more than five
times unaccompanied children than the prior year which the Obama administration
heralded as a great success. Salva Lacruz, coordinator Human Rights Center in
Tapachula described U.S. polices as “reeking in hypocrisy”. We need far better programs
rooted in real compassion more especially because of past US polices which fomented
much of the instability in Central America.
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