R4V Response for Venezuelans – Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela: Central America and Mexico Situation Report – July - September 2023

Situation

Subregion

• In September, the R4V’s Regional Refugee and Migrants Needs Analysis (RMNA) was launched. The RMNA reports that 61.3 per cent (123.1K) of Venezuelans living in the Central America and Mexico subregion are in need, with the greatest needs being in protection, integration, food security, shelter, and health sectors. At the same time, 87.9 per cent and 88 per cent of Venezuelans and other nationalities in-transit, respectively, are in need, with the greatest needs in protection, shelter, humanitarian transportation, and WASH.

Panama

• During this period, historical numbers of Venezuelans crossed the Darien, totalling 159,449 entries (30,033 in July, 62,700 in August, and 58,716 in September). Crossings during these months were more than double the same period last year (79,097) and exceeded the total annual number of Venezuelan entries for 2022 (150,327).
• On 13 July, the Government of Panama approved Executive Decree No. 112, establishing the Temporary Protection Permit which allows irregular migrants that have been in Panama for at least one year to apply for this two-year permit. The respective work permit was established by Executive Decree No. 7 of 13 July 2023.
• In response to the increasing numbers of refugees and migrants crossing the Darien jungle region, the Government of Panama launched the “Darien is not a route, it’s a jungle” (Darién no es una ruta es una jungla) campaign in August. The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness of the conditions and risks of crossing the Darien jungle to discourage people to embark on this dangerous journey.
• The draft National Plan against Migrant Smuggling (2024-2029) to prevent migrant smuggling and related activities was presented in August. Once it has been consulted, it will be adopted through an Executive Decree.
• In early September, Panama announced new measures to curb irregular migration, including increasing the requirement to enter the country from USD 500 to USD 1,000 and reducing the length of time allowed to remain in the country for certain nationalities from one month to 15 days. They also announced that they would be enforcing deportations of persons with criminal records.
• During his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, the president of Panama called upon the international community help address the irregular migration, stating: “This is an untenable situation, undesired and inhumane; a humanitarian drama of pain, grief and death to thousands of migrants that embark on this hazardous journey...”
• On 23 September, Security ministers from Panama and Costa Rica jointly visited temporary reception stations in the Darien to discuss how to address the migration situation in these countries. During the visit, Costa Rica’s Security minister announced that their president would visit Panama in October. The Panamanian president also held a bilateral meeting with his Colombian counterpart on 19 September, during which they agreed to activate the “Good Neighbour Commission” to address bilateral issues and strengthen ties that unite both nations.

Costa Rica

• In July, two vehicle accidents involving refugees and migrants were reported, one resulting in the death of three migrants who were travelling with a group of 11 Venezuelans in Los Chiles (northern border). The other accident occurred the following day where a bus carrying 60 refugees and migrants overturned. No fatalities were reported.
• In August, a case of tuberculosis was detected in a migrant shelter in Paso Canoas. The individual was taken to the hospital and then transferred to the government-run Temporary Centre for Migrants (CATEM, for its acronym in Spanish) where they were isolated.
• On 29 September, the president of Costa Rica declared a state of emergency due to the increased arrivals of refugees and migrants at the country's southern border which exceeded the operational capacities of government institutions. Following the declaration of the state of emergency, the government established the Temporary Centre for Migrants (CATEM, for its acronym in Spanish): a single point where refugees and migrants in transit would arrive in the country to continue their route.

Mexico

• In July, there were 24,236 events(1) of entries of persons with an irregular status. In August, the total number of entries stood at 21,936, and in September there were 30,560 irregular entries (representing an increase of 39 per cent from August). Of the total 76,732 irregular entry events during these three months, 60 per cent were voluntary presentations and 40 per cent were channelings(2). From July to September(3), a total of eight deportations and 29 assisted returns took place.
• In July, a total of 5,796 events of entries of persons with regular status were recorded; in August, a total of 7,177 events were recorded, with an increase of 24 percent over the previous month, and in September, 6,419 new events were recorded, representing a decrease of 11 percent from August.
• Asylum claims in Mexico totalled 112,937 by the end of September, representing a 30 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Sixty per cent of all asylum claims were filed in Chiapas. The most represented nationalities are Haitians, followed by Hondurans, Cubans, and to a lesser extent, Salvadorians, and Venezuelans. The number if Venezuelan nationals requesting asylum in Mexico is relatively low in comparison with the total number of arrivals of this nationality, as most of them try to reach the U.S.
• The reporting period saw a continued increase of arrivals refugees and migrants in Mexico City, with 400-700 people arriving daily at the government Tlahuac shelter to request an asylum appointment with COMAR and the main shelter (CAFEMIN) being at 500 per cent capacity. Near the North Bus Station in Mexico City, approximately 450-500 refugees and migrants have settled in informal camps, with a significant number of family groups. There are pressing humanitarian needs for access to shelters, food, clean water, and hygiene in these areas.
• The number of persons arriving to northern Mexico has been steadily increasing. An increasing number of people lost their lives attempting to irregularly cross the river from Piedras Negras to Eagle Pass, including a three-yearold child. As a result of the arrival of more than 15,000 people the last week of September (primarily from Venezuela), the city of Eagle Pass issued a one-week emergency declaration on 20 September, extended on 27 September for another week. In addition, the authorities closed one of the international bridges in Piedras Negras, which has resulted in losses of USD 60 million according to local authorities. There was also an increase in persons crossing the river in Ciudad Juarez and presenting themselves to the U.S. authorities. Border gates across the city saw gatherings of up to 500 people at a time waiting to be processed to enter the U.S.
• Between 15-18 September, over 4,000 refugees and migrants were reported in the state of Oaxaca, in Ixtepec, Oaxaca City, Juchitan and Tapanatepec. During this period, the local authorities evacuated migrants from Oaxaca City centre and transferred them to Santa Lucia del Camino, also in Oaxaca. However, the shelters and local services in this locality collapsed within three days. About 3,000 people scattered and could be still in the locality.
  On 26 September, the first Migratory Mobility Centre was set up in Juchitan, Oaxaca by the state authorities at which over 8,000 people were attended between 26 and 30 September. In this centre, refugees and migrants with a CBP One appointment have access to free transportation from Oaxaca City or Mexico City. Similar centres are expected to open in Tapanatepec and San Sebastián Tutla. However, according to field monitoring, migrants that were returned from the north of the country to Villahermosa are not staying at the government’s facilities. After spending one or two days in the locality, they continue their journey to the north of the country.
• During the reporting period, COMAR and SRE prepared for the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) to be held in Geneva in December 2023. Regional consultations were organized in July and August in Guanajuato, Nuevo León, Tapachula and Tijuana, resulting in pledges for each of the four locations. Preparations for the GRF will continue until December.

1. It is important to note that the same person may be presented and/or channeled more than once.
2. The presentation is a measure in which the temporary accommodation of a foreign person who does not prove his/her migratory situation is agreed for the regularization of his/her stay or assistance for his/her return, and the channeling refers to children or adolescents and their companions, if applicable, who do not have a document proving their legal stay in the territory and are sent or channeled to the shelters of the National System for the Integral Development of the Family (SNDIF).
3. 2023 Boletín estadístico mensual: Boletin_2023.pdf (segob.gob.mx)