KBI Media Report: July 2019

This month’s report covers Mexico’s crackdown on Central American immigrants; dangerous conditions in U.S. Border Patrol detention facilities; and the political situation that is driving many Hondurans to flee their country.

• Migration Crackdown in Mexico: Following an agreement with the U.S., Mexico is employing various methods to halt migration as a way to avoid potential tariffs. In the ensuing weeks, conditions in detention centers and shelters have declined dramatically as migrant apprehensions have escalated, and the government has deployed the National Guard to the country’s southern border and more checkpoints along highways. In the midst of this crackdown, spaces never meant to house people—open-air fairgrounds, administrative buildings, a sports arena—have been converted into makeshift shelters, with insufficient resources to provide hygienic quarters, medical care, or others necessary services. Read more about these disturbing developments here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/mexicos-migration-crackdown-overwhelms-its-shelters-and-antagonizes-its-neighbors/2019/07/01/cedde2b8-99c4-11e9-9a16-dc551ea5a43b_story.html?eId=1acce79e-5d16-4ebd-80d0-e2f85bee72c1&eType=EmailBlastContent&utm_term=.c313b76bed26.
• Unsafe BP Detention Conditions: “Dangerous overcrowding” and “prolonged detention of children and adults”—so read a recent report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General outlining conditions in Rio Grande detention facilities run by U.S. Border Patrol. Men, women, and children slept on floors in five overcrowded centers. Of the 8,000 detained immigrants, 3,400 were held more than the 72 hours allowed by law. Other conditions imposing health and safety risks included: lack of showers, lack of hot meals, lack of access to a change of clothing, and week-long detention in standing-room cells. Read here about this worsening and intolerable situation: https://thehill.com/latino/451414-dhs-watchdog-finds-dangerous-overcrowding-prolonged-detention-at-rio-grande-border.
• Dangers in Honduras: In recent months, social and political upheaval has reached a breaking point in Honduras as citizens have taken to the streets, protesting election irregularities, government corruption, authoritarianism, poverty, and inequality. The resulting drug violence, high homicide rates, military force, and economic burdens are also major drivers of migration. This article explains the current political scenario in greater detail: https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/06/americas/honduras-protests-explainer-intl/index.html.