FOLLOWING THE ROUTE OF MIGRANT CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS FROM HONDURAS
EE.UU. desbordado por la “crisis humanitaria” de los niños sin papeles
In 2016, almost 10,000 children and adolescents were detained and returned to Honduras.
I tried migrating when I was 13 years old; I decided myself, because I wanted to help my mom and my brother, so they would have a better future. I travelled without adults, with a group of friends from the same community.
Before migrating, I lived with mi mom, my grandma, my uncle and aunt and my brother. I finished sixth grade, but when I reached seventh, my mom could not afford it anymore and so I decided to help her. I tried to leave without her knowing; I left with my friends, without a coyote.
The majority of children and adolescents migrate because of the difficult economic situation they are facing, to reunite with their families or due to violence in their countries of origin.
When we were here, with the others, we thought that everything would get better if we crossed, but when we saw everything that happened on the way, this idea faded away.
But what can happen on the way?
The risk of encountering dangers and multiple forms of violence during their journey and upon return is exacerbated in the case of children and adolescents travelling alone.
The real dangers of the route: Exhaustion, hunger, cold, lack of sleep. Human trafficking, organ trafficking and exploitation. Physical and/or sexual violence.
In 2016, the detentions of accompanied and unaccompanied children and adolescents increased by 20% in the United States and Mexico compared to 2014 and 2015.
The probability of detention by the authorities of the transit or destination countries is high.
This is why it is important for you to know that in case of detention and return, there is a process of special care.
It follows three steps: Exchange, reception and follow-up.
1. Reception in special centers for migrant children and adolescents. I believe that it is not good for a child or adolescent to migrate under unsafe conditions; it does not matter whether they travel with family members or coyotes. On the journey, you suffer; it is long and hard. My friends who managed to cross the border cannot get out because they are undocumented. When I think of them, I feel that here I am free; I am with my family and they support me. There, I would not have this support.
2. Interview and examination of the case: Consulate of Honduras.
3. Receptioon of the information and preparation of return: Secretariat for External Relations and Care Center for Migrants in Honduras.
EXCHANGE
1. Information about the return process: Child Protection Officer (OPI) on the bus for minor returnees.
These are the services which we receive in the center.
CANFM-BELÉN
2. Reception: Care Center for Migrant Children and Families. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at least one bus with returned children and adolescents arrives who receive the following services:
RECEPTION
Care initiatives for returned migrants by state institutions at the national level or specific projects by organizations which provide care in limited geographical areas: AMHON, UNHCR, CONADEH, CASM, Casa Alianza.
FOLLOW-UP
Food
Clothes
Migration process with biometric system
Shelter
Information about social offers of the government
Personal hygiene kit
Registration of data
Special care for persons displaced due to violence (according to care protocol of UNHCR and Norwegian Refugee Council)
Transport to their places of origin National or international phone call
Psychological care: Identification of cases of sexual abuse, human trafficking and need for protection due to forced displacement