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Quixote Center
Solidarity Travel to Panama

This week, the Quixote Center and the Franciscan Network for Migrants (FNM) are leading a delegation of 10 immigration advocates to bear witness to the impacts of US anti-immigration policies in Panama.

The solidarity trip started in Paso Canoa at the border with Costa Rica where many US deportees are being detained. Costa Rica and Panamanian authorities first designated the CATEM (Migration Attention Center) to regulate the movement of migrants returning south. When we stopped by this facility, we were not allowed inside however we could clearly see that the families detained there are from Asia and Africa while Latin American nationals could continue their journey south. There is a lot of secrecy about what is going on in CATEM and what will happen to all these families as only the International Organization on Migration (IOM) seems to have direct access to them.

CATEM - Migration Attention Center in Costa Rica

With Quixote Center's support, FNM set up a meal program in Paso Canoas that serves around 80 lunches from Monday to Thursday for migrants who are trying to return home or receive asylum by a third country. Most people they serve are from Venezuela, entire families who suffered terrible ordeals crossing the Darien Gap are terrified by the thought of having to cross through it again to reach their country. Without any work permit, it is very difficult for them to assemble enough money for a safe return home.

Volunteers at the Franciscan meal program in Paso Canoas

Those who have enough money to get through Paso Canoas find their way to Colon on the Panamanian coast up to a small fishing town called Miramar. From there they take speedboats to reach Necocli in Colombia which costs each passenger around $250. The municipality and community of Miramar are organizing support networks for migrants arriving every day in the hope of getting on one of those boats. 34 migrants, including men, women and children are staying in a house provided by local authorities, sleeping on cardboard or mats. The other migrants in town, mostly men, are sleeping in the streets. Many have been living in these dire conditions for over a month. They have no access to bathrooms or showers and must ask residents for help.

Franciscan Network for Migrants meeting with Miramar community and parish at the Miramar chapel

While we saw other organizations like IOM and the Red Cross in Miramar offering some services to the migrant population, the FNM team in Panama met with the local parish and listened to community members to better understand the situation and identify possible ways to support these desperate populations. Quixote Center's solidarity trip enabled our partners to make important contacts and set up a support network to alleviate the hardships people are facing. We will continue working towards strengthening their capacity to provide humanitarian assistance to people in need and we are grateful for all your support in this endeavor.

 

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Suggested Actions to Stem Crisis in Haiti

Haiti is suffering from an acute humanitarian crisis of violence and food insecurity, fueled by weapons and ammunition trafficked from the United States. Over a million Haitians are displaced as a result of the violence, and everyone is living in fear. In this context, the United States is rescinding Temporary Protected Status for Haitians who are here legally, and is continuing to deport Haitians back to Haiti, a country that is in no position to receive them.

We are collecting signatures for the Department of Homeland Security to end illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition to Haiti, to protect Haitians already in this country, and to end deportation flights to Haiti. We plan to deliver the petitions in person at a public action and press conference in May.

We invite you to sign the petition, and forward it to your friends and colleagues. Thank you for your support.

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