Help Refugees at Risk in the U.S. and Globally

Imagine fleeing your home when it becomes no longer safe to live, traveling thousands of miles by motorcycle, boat, bus, and on foot through several countries and a notoriously dangerous jungle, only to be told to turn around and go back.People arriving at the U.S. border have the legal right to request asylum without being criminalized or turned away. Yet Title 42 had been used to justify over 2.5 million expulsions since March 2020 despite U.S. legal obligations under international and domestic law to provide all asylum-seekers with the right to seek safety.  

Many of these asylum seekers are making the dangerous trek from South America and Caribbean countries such as Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela. Ivan is one of the millions of Venezuelans who have tried to resettle in the Americas. Because of the challenges he and his family faced, Ivan and his younger brother, Alexander, made the difficult decision to embark on the journey to the U.S.-Mexico border. Their hopes rested on seeking asylum in the United States and finding new opportunities for work. 

The harrowing journey  

Ivan and his brother found themselves in a dangerous situation when they crossed through the jungle at the Panama-Colombia border, known as the Darién Gap. It is notorious for its dense, mountainous terrain, wildlife, and insects, as well as for the crimes committed against vulnerable people, including women and children.  

After their harrowing trek through the Panama jungle, Ivan and his brother made their way up to Mexico. However, on the day they entered Mexico, in October 2022, they found the U.S. and Mexican officials expelling Venezuelans arriving at the border. They attempted to press on in their journey to safety. But soon after, they came across cartels in one of the cities bordering North East Mexico and were forced to spend around $500 to continue on to the border. This encounter almost became Ivan’s breaking point to return to Venezuela. 

Stranded 

But at the border, they found hope. Ivan and his brother were connected with a pastor who runs an IRC-supported shelter. “I trust God a lot, and I ask my God to give me peace and give me perseverance. The contact was through the pastor…we came by bus and got there. He was already waiting for us.” 

Ivan is deeply grateful that they have access to a shelter and food—basic necessities that are lacking for so many who are seeking asylum. They have also found temporary restaurant work through the shelter. “The most common needs are to have a place to sleep and rest. Because not everyone has the privilege of being in a shelter where they give him three meals… There are people outside who do not have a shelter, who don't have anything to eat, not even once a day. And it's cold right now.”  

While Ivan’s brother was able to make an appointment to seek asylum using a new U.S. government smartphone application, CBP One, Ivan has had difficulty securing an appointment slot—a problem shared by many asylum seekers at the border. Not only that, but President Biden proposed a new policy that would bar asylum-seekers who crossed through another country on their way to the southern border, unless they had previously applied for (and been denied) asylum in the country of transit. This policy will make it even more challenging for people like Ivan, especially with the added threats of violence, kidnapping, and extortion in Ciudad Juárez.  

While Ivan waits to secure an appointment, he has appreciated the counselling and psychosocial support he’s received from IRC staff. The activities at the shelter have provided a welcome distraction, helping him keep his mind off of the long waiting process. Notably, Ivan participated in the IRC's masculinity group sessions, which provide a safe space for men to express their emotions without fear of being judged through dialogue circles and playful activities.  Participating in the group helped Ivan rest and sleep better at night. The groups also help men, who are rarely accustomed to seeking help for their mental health, to redefine what it means to be strong.  

The IRC’s support 

As Mexico experiences unprecedented displacement, the IRC provides critical support to asylum seekers like Ivan and his brother on both sides of the U.S. southern border. Beyond the masculinities groups sessions, the IRC’s response includes creating physical and emotional safe spaces for women, girls, children and members of the LGBTQ+ community.   

The IRC also promotes access to trustworthy and up-to-date information through the digital platform InfoDigna. The site connects migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, as they pass through Mexico, with moderators that will follow up on their cases, and orient them to service providers according to their needs. 

How can you help? 

You can continue your support by encouraging your peers to welcome refugees as valuable members of our society. You can also help newcomers by volunteering with the IRC’s resettlement offices, becoming an English tutor, a community sponsor, a mentor to a family, donating furniture and household items, teaching other people about the valuable contributions of refugees, urging your elected officials to support refugee resettlement, and employing or encouraging local businesses to employ refugees. Thank you for your support! 

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