After participating in a march in
Ixtepec, Oaxaca in southern Mexico with mothers and family members who are searching for their missing daughters and sons, I was struck at both the complexity of the structural issues in migration, and also the very straight-forward issues being addressed by legions of people who offer direct services to migrants. These Salvadorean women were coming on bus through Mexico, and
started in Chiapas (article in spanish). I´ll offer some thoughts on the basic issues before reflecting on the complex.
Searching for your child: This morning, around 9am we watched as a group of somber women and men from El Salvador descended from their bus. They were met by Mexican supporters, including the priest and local workers from the Ixtepec migrant shelter. Located in part of Mexico that narrows considerably - the Isthmus - Ixtepec sits in the path of the railroad tracks that carry Mexico´s frieght train. Although riding the train is dangerous and uncomfortable, it does not cost anything, and thus is the method of choice for many migrants. The Salvadorean group had decided to come through Ixtepec since there was a high chance that their loved one had passed through. As the mothers assembled for their march, they held up signs that took my breath away. Each sign said their child´s name, when they were lost, and had their picture. These mothers have been looking for the news of their children for as long as 28 years in one case, and refuse to give up hope. As we found out during the march and ensuing speeches and testimonies, they have tried every means possible including following the migrant trail and calling authorities in Mexico and the United States. Their resolution in searching for their children presents a very straight-forward human universal: a parent's love.
Why does someone migrate? This is much more complex issue, perhaps, and involves much more than might be commonly imagined. I'll stick to facts that are less well-known. For the majority of people who migrate, the motivation is fundamentally economic. However, they also may be fleeing domestic, local (e.g. gang-related), political or
structural violence in their home communities. The migrants coming through Mexico often have migrated more than once and come from many different parts of Latin America, and even Africa and Asia. Most are from Central America, and face mistreatment by vendors, migration officials, military personnel, fellow travelers, and police. Up to 90% of women encounter sexual violence. Depending on which country the migrant is coming from, large-scale economic forces,
structural adjustment, or national level politics may be strong push-factors.
The image above shows migrants jumping on the roof of the moving train.
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