Colombians find success at U.S. border through Mexico
NEW YORK — When his cellphone and computer accessories business was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Alvaro started thinking about leaving Colombia for the U.S.
The 55-year-old, who said he also faced discrimination in Colombia for his sexual orientation, learned this year that Mexico doesn’t require visas for Colombians. That meant he could easily fly to the U.S. border.
“I started hearing that one could ask for political asylum at the border,” said Alvaro, who insisted that his last name not be published due to his legal status.
Alvaro joined tens of thousands of Colombians fleeing one of Latin America’s most populous countries on a migration route that has rarely been used — until now.
Colombians were stopped at the U.s.-mexico border more than 15,000 times in March, up nearly 60 percent from February and nearly 100fold over last year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures. Many fly to Mexico City or Cancun and take a bus or another plane to border towns before crossing into the U.S.
Years ago, Colombians came to the U.S. on visas and later asked for asylum, said Andres Daza, an attorney who works with the Colombian consulate in Miami.
But the Biden administration is pressing Mexico to get stricter. In April, Mexico imposed online registration for Colombians, demanding travel itineraries, hotel reservations
in Mexico and departure tickets.
Alvaro found a way around the rules. A smuggler reserved him a hotel room and he flew to Mexico City. From there, he flew to Mexicali, across the border from Calexico, Calif. He climbed a border wall using a shaky ladder and surrendered to border agents. After being detained a few days, he eventually went to Miami, where he has nephews.
Colombians have largely avoided expulsions the U.S. has carried out under pandemic-related powers to deny migrants a chance to seek asylum. The U.S. has expelled immigrants more than 1.8 million times using Title 42 authority, which was named for a public health law and is due to expire May 23.
Title 42 has been applied unevenly across nationalities, due to costs, diplomatic relations and other considerations. In March, only 303, or 2 percent of stops, resulted in expulsion for Colombians, according to CBP. The agency said in a statement that its ability to expel migrants under Title 42 “may be limited for several reasons, including Mexico’s ability and capacity
to receive those individuals.”
Mexico has agreed to take migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba and Nicaragua.
The pandemic left many businesses in Colombia bankrupt. The country saw massive protests last year over proposed income tax hikes.
In rural areas, community leaders face threats from rebel groups and drug cartels fighting over territory.
Jaime Rojas and his wife, Nataly Chaparro, are among professionals who crossed on foot. They left Bogota with their two kids after Rojas lost his job as an information systems technician and Chaparro lost hers as an English teacher. They also faced retaliation from gangs because of their volunteer work trying to steer young people away from drugs.
The family now lives in New Jersey. The husband and wife work 10 to 12 hours a day sorting legumes and packaging salads at a wholesale food manufacturer.
“This has been hard work,” Chaparro, 36, said, “but we are better off here.”