Human Rights Watch calls on Latin America countries to step up aid for Haitian, Venezuelan migrants

On August 29, the Biden administration resumed a humanitarian parole program for migrants from four countries, including Venezuela and Haiti, after pausing it in July following allegations of widespread fraud.

Now, Human Rights Watch, one of the leading human rights watchdogs in the world, has called on Latin American governments to enhance protection measures, grant legal status and do their part as a whole to ensure that millions of Venezuelans and Haitians get opportunities in their home countries.

The call comes as many migrants struggle mightily across the region, forcing them to increasingly seek asylum in the United States, as the Associated Press reports.

In its latest report, Human Rights Watch highlighted the challenges faced by Haitian and Venezuelan migrants in South America, where insufficient integration and regularization policies are pushing vulnerable populations to undertake dangerous journeys, including the treacherous crossing of the Darien Gap, a jungle between Colombia and Panama, to reach the U.S. border.

The organization urged Latin American governments to establish a region-wide protection regime that provides legal status to Venezuelans and Haitians for a fixed but renewable term. This, they argued, would offer protection even for those who may not qualify for refugee status under current domestic laws.

The report also emphasized the need to remove barriers that prevent migrants from obtaining work permits while seeking asylum, which has hindered their integration into local economies.

The report did, however, acknowledge efforts by some Latin American countries to accommodate migrants and asylum seekers:

"While some Latin American governments have made commendable efforts to receive migrants and asylum seekers, efforts to regularize migration in the region have often fallen short due to restrictive timelines, complex procedures, onerous document requirements, and administrative delays."

Panama's national immigration agency reported that more than 700,000 migrants have crossed the Darien Gap over the past 18 months, with around 65% being Venezuelans fleeing political and economic crises. This year alone, 11,000 Haitians have made the perilous journey through the jungle as gang violence and food insecurity continue to plague their homeland.

Such massive movements have led the Panama government to carry out deportation flights from the Darien Gap, as part of a recent agreement with the United States.

Human Rights Watch noted that Haitians in South America face significant challenges in obtaining residence permits and accessing formal employment, leading many to seek better opportunities in the United States. Similarly, Venezuelans have struggled to integrate into South American countries, with many now turning to the U.S. as economic conditions in the region deteriorate post-pandemic.

Research by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) indicates that a majority of Venezuelans seeking asylum in the U.S. had previously attempted to settle in South American countries like Peru, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.