pandemic

Currently, more than 5 million Venezuelans have left their country due to the complex socio-political context. Of those, at least 4 million are in Latin American and Caribbean countries, according to data collected from governments by the Regional Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V).

Panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic: these are just some of the countries in the Central America, North America, and Caribbean region where, since the beginning of the pandemic, groups of migrants have been stranded due to mobility restrictions and the closing of borders. These measures, promulgated by national governments with the aim of containing the international spread of the disease, affected both cross-border migrations to a country of destination and those of return to the community of origin, since they were all interrupted or hindered.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the statistics and available data reveal that children belong to the population group that has suffered the least health impact, as they are less prone to the risk of infection, especially compared to older adults.

The living conditions of migrants, the intention to migrate to a previously established country of destination and the timing and logistics of migratory dynamics have been severely affected by COVID-19. The health emergency has implied not only the closure of borders, and the consequent restrictions on mobility, but also an increase in the health vulnerabilities of the migrant population, which on numerous occasions has been stranded in shelters in border areas. Such is the case of Haitian, and to a lesser extent Cuban, African and Asian migrants, whose migratory projects have been momentarily interrupted by the pandemic and who are now sheltering in Panama, near the border with Colombia, as their itinerary was obstructed by the border closures.

Countering episodes of xenophobia against migrants is a major objective, which transcends temporal and geographical limits. According to the ECLAC definition, xenophobia is an atavistic problem that derives from the feeling of fear towards foreigners, different ethnic groups or people whose identity is unknown.

As reported by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, human trafficking networks, as with other criminal groups, take advantage of people's vulnerability during a humanitarian crisis, such as COVID-19.

Since 1979, the IOM has supported some 1.3 million migrants across the world through its Assisted Voluntary Return Programme (AVR). The program focuses on migrants who wish to return to their country of origin but without the means to do so. Persons from the migrant population that can access this program include: rejected asylum seekers applicants, victims of human trafficking, stranded migrants, and other vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied minors, among others.

Any legislation, policy or practice aimed at preventing the unnecessary detention of persons for reasons related to their migration status, can be considered as an alternative to migrant detention, whether formal or informal, according to IOM.