Dear John,
As I write this latest Cafecito, the unjust US and Mexican immigration policies are on full display. As I am sure you have heard by now, last week a fire broke out in an immigration detention center in Ciudad Juárez killing 40 migrants from Central and South America. This tragic incident exposed the Biden administration’s failed policies that are shutting down the right to asylum and leaving migrants from throughout the hemisphere stranded at the border in dire situations with deadly consequences. As I recently told CNN these events also show the extent to which the Mexican government’s continuous use of enforcement policies endangers the lives of migrants. WOLA is calling for an independent investigation into this preventable tragedy as well as for reparations for the victims and the implementation of policies that protect migrants.
As we monitor the human rights situation in the region we continue to be alarmed by an increasing number of people migrating due to worrisome push factors.
In February, I traveled to Costa Rica to take part in a discussion that focused on human mobility in the region. I was able to go to the northern border and visit an encampment created by displaced members of the campesino movement of Nicaragua. In San José I met with a diverse group of Nicaraguan exiles that consisted of NGOs, academics, feminist groups, politicians, and student leaders, among others. It was astounding to see the sheer number of people who have been forced to leave Nicaragua for fear of being targets of the Daniel Ortega government.
This meeting happened just a few days before Ortega shocked the region by releasing and forcibly displacing 222 political prisoners and putting them on a direct flight to Washington, DC. While we were grateful to see them free, their forced deportation and the stripping of their properties and nationalities was a shameful act by the Nicaraguan government, clearly violating their rights. Since then, I have met several of the freed political prisoners. It has been wrenching to hear of the terrible abuses they have faced and I am heartened by their courage. In the coming weeks and months we hope to be able to partner with some of those who remain in exile in the Washington, DC area to help shed light on the ongoing human rights situation in Nicaragua.
Meanwhile here in Washington, with so many new Members of Congress, change in control of the House of Representatives, and new leadership on key committees, we have been reaching out to new allies and thinking of strategies for the upcoming year. In terms of our priorities, we continue to monitor and brief Congress on the democratic backsliding in the region, including the criminalization of human rights defenders and journalists.
With the increase of international travel, we have been busy receiving delegations and visits of civil society partners from Guatemala, Venezuela, México, Colombia, such as exiled Guatemalan Judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez and human rights defense attorney Claudia González among others, and have supported their advocacy efforts to ensure the US government hears their voices.
WOLA also continues to engage with Latin American governments, especially where human rights crises have occurred, like in the case of Peru. In February, Senior Fellow Jo-Marie Burt and I met with Foreign Minister, Ana Cecilia Gervasi, during her visit to Washington. We expressed our concerns for the human rights violations that are currently taking place amid Peru’s political turmoil. Just recently we co-signed a letter to President Dina Boluarte urging the government to support the creation of an independent group of experts backed by the Inter-American Commission to investigate recent violations. We will continue to keep these channels of communication open as we push the Peruvian government to respect the rights of its citizens.
Furthermore, as the 50th anniversary of the Chilean coup d’état fast approaches, we met with the Chilean Ambassador to the U.S., Juan Gabriel Valdés, and various partner organizations to discuss possible ways to commemorate this important event that not only changed the Western Hemisphere and the human rights movement we know today, but that also led to the creation of WOLA. I look forward to updating you more on these events and on our upcoming 50th anniversary.
And last but not least, as our advocacy efforts continue this year, I am excited to announce that our Communications team is growing. Zaida Márquez has joined as our new VP for Communications and Milli Legrain is stepping into the newly created position of Editorial Director. Both have extensive experience in communications and human rights in the region. We look forward to showing you the new and innovative ways we’ll be communicating our work.
Just a few months into the year, and we are already starting to get a sense of what 2023 might shape up to be. We will be updating you on our journey and are grateful for your continued support.
Sincerely,
