Migrant Adult and Young Women in North America. Challenges in Education, Violence and Poverty

Currently, there are an estimated 220 million people on the move across the globe. Individuals and families are displaced for a variety of reasons including conflict, persecution, famine, or the results of climate change. Movement of migrants and asylum seekers across North America is no exception with thousands of people, daily, crossing the Mexican-United States border, predominantly. Migration across Canada, Mexico, and the United States was one of the underlying reasons prompting the formation of the alliance called CAMEUS (an acronym formed from “Canada”, “Mexico”, and “United States”).

CAMEUS is a collaboration between the Canadian Federation of University Women, the Mexican Federation of University Women, and Women Graduates - USA. These three organizations are all members of Graduate Women International, an organization based in Geneva, Switzerland and comprised of university women’s organizations from over 50 countries, and each has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at the United Nations. They have come together, as the mission statement elaborates, “to work together in cooperation and friendship to promote equity, human rights, social and economic justice”. As women’s organizations, members of CAMEUS felt an urgent need to research the current circumstances of, predominantly, women and children as they moved across the borders of the three countries represented.

A questionnaire was developed to guide conversations with representatives working in resettlement agencies to determine situations encountered by asylum seekers during their journey, while in detention (i.e. waiting for permanent placement), and once settled in their new location. Questions were focused on three areas: education of the children, violence encountered, and the conditions of poverty these women and their children experienced.

UNAM Chicago collaborated in administering the questionnaire, joining forces with UNAM Boston and UNAM Tucson to interview three organizations supporting migrants. UNAM has a longstanding tradition of honoring such organizations with the Alfonso García Robles Award. The relationships cultivated by UNAM’s International Offices with these entities facilitated this collaboration throughout October and November 2023. In addition, members of Columbia County Sanctuary Movement shared the knowledge they have gained in these three areas while working with migrant women recently arriving in Albany, New York from New York City.

The interviews findings, especially regarding travel from Mexico into the United States, included the following subjects.

EDUCATION
During the journeys, no formal nor informal education takes place. Migrant Women, for the most part, are fleeing violence and leaving everything behind. Their journeys are arduous and fraught with danger from gangs and coyotes. Education is not possible during this time.

Once migrant women reach a destination refuge, some education may take place. If the housing is semi-permanent, State laws require students to enroll in school. However, the process of enrolling is often difficult due to language barriers, unfamiliarity with conventions surrounding school attendance (school buses, food choices, etc.), and wariness and lack of understanding of government oversight (immigration status, Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement). School districts in towns and cities receiving migrant children are stretched thin with regard to English language programs and mental health services for traumatized children. It was noted that while there is no difference between the education boys and girls receive, often boys commonly take on work (illegal for their ages) rather than attend school while girls are often expected to provide childcare for younger siblings while parents attempt to find work.

VIOLENCE
Verifiable data are sorely lacking; however, anecdotally there are reports of continual violence perpetrated on migrants during their journey. This is often gender-based violence, family kidnappings, sexual violence, human trafficking, and extortion. While many of these acts of violence are carried out by members of drug cartels and coyotes, there are reports of immigration authorities also abusing the power they have over these vulnerable individuals.

Acts of violence occur during the journey as well as while migrants are waiting at the southern border or once having successfully crossed into the United States. Currently, migrants are indiscriminately moved from southern states to cities across the US resulting in continued migratory trauma. Support services in these cities are stretched thin and often require health insurance which is unaffordable for migrant families. Additionally, while community groups endeavor to support migrants newly arrived in their cities and towns, there continue to be pockets of bias and outrage directed at these newcomers.

POVERTY
In most places, once migrants have reached an area for resettlement, even temporarily, federal guidelines are used to determine poverty. Many migrants have depleted all their financial reserves to undertake the journey and, often, they continue to be exploited during their travels. A large number must stop their travels to find work where they can to replenish their funds. Once they have landed in the US migrants must wait until their immigration status is established before they can obtain work permits. The backlog in the judicial system charged with reviewing their claims for asylum is often years long due to the lack of immigration judges compared to the number of migrants seeking asylum. This results in migrants being forced into illegal, low-paying jobs while they wait.

RECOMMENDATIONS
From the interviews conducted, several proposals emerged. Firstly, there is a suggestion for the establishment of a regional visa program aimed at facilitating safer and more organized migration. Secondly, interviewees highlighted the need for civil oversight in detention centers, addressing concerns about the dire and challenging conditions therein. Additionally, there is a call for increased resources allocated to legal and health assistance, including mental health support, to better cater to the needs of migrants. Finally, there is a proposal for creating pathways for obtaining work permits.

Embracing new narratives, particularly recognizing migrants as a valuable workforce capable of fostering development in their destination areas, presents promising opportunities. By prioritizing efficient resource management, both migrants and their destination communities can mutually benefit from this interconnected process.

CONCLUSION
The interviews shed light on the challenges faced by migrants, especially women and children, in the areas of education, violence, and poverty. The lack of formal education during the migratory journey, coupled with language barriers and other obstacles, poses significant challenges for them. The prevalence of violence, especially against women and girls, both in their home countries and during the journey, underscores the urgent need for better protection mechanisms and support services. Additionally, the discussion on poverty highlights the economic struggles faced by migrants and the importance of providing not only legal assistance but also mental health care and resources for employment and housing. Overall, addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach involving local, regional, state, and federal support systems to ensure the well-being of migrants and their new communities.

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