The global migration catastrophe has had serious consequences for Latin America. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forcefully displaced from their homelands due to violence, poverty, persecution and the climate crisis. Most of the migrants are en route to the USA in hope of a better life. Their journey invariably takes them through Mexico, Chiapas being their main point of entrance. Although the majority of the migrants come from Central and South America and the Caribbean, some come from as far away as the continents of Africa and Asia. Many of them are children and adolescents. Few reach their destination as many of them are detained and deported to their countries of origin.
Due to toughened measures against migration during the Trump presidency and continued by Biden, the US border has effectively been moved to Guatemala and this has resulted in increased militarization of the state of Chiapas, an issue that we have examined in previous blogs.
As part of our collaboration with the Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas Center for Human Rights (Frayba) and a continued diversification of our solidarity work, Schools for Chiapas has been recruiting and placing civil observer volunteers at the migrant refuge in Salto el Agua. If you would like to find out more and perhaps volunteer at the center for a month, please visit our website at https://schoolsforchiapas.org/become-a-human-rights-observer/
