Violence, impunity, and corruption have forced thousands of Central Americans to flee their homes. All people have the rights to safety, human dignity, and a process to seek asylum. Yet when they flee, migrants face further dangers and abuses designed to deter them from their journey. Upon reaching the United States, they can be detained, prosecuted, or have their family members taken from them. After years spent building their lives in the United States, they may still be at risk of deportation.
UUSC’s strategy uses a regional lens, aimed at three aspects of the issue:
- The right to safety in Central America
- The right to safety on the migrant trail
- Human rights and the U.S. immigration system
These three aspects are inextricably linked. As with all of our initiatives, we focus our grant-making and partner support on grassroots organizations working for systemic change. We believe that connecting groups across the migrant trail from El Salvador to Mexico to the United States will create a strong movement centered on the rights of people, not borders.
