Reported by Cassandra Garrison and Bernat Parera in Mexico City for Reuters, a Venezuelan mother in her 30s believed that her family had overcome the most difficult part of their perilous journey after five days of trekking through the jungles separating Colombia and Panama. Despite being forewarned about thieves and hearing stories of other migrants encountering danger along this treacherous route, she, her husband, and their young daughter pressed on with a group heading towards the endpoint of the hazardous Darien Crossing, where boats awaited.
Their sense of relief was short-lived when approximately 15 armed men emerged suddenly from the Panamanian forest, encircling them and separating the women from the group. The women were forced to undress and were then subjected to brutal sexual assaults by the men. The Venezuelan mother, recounting her harrowing ordeal, described initially resisting the attackers but eventually succumbing as they beat her mercilessly. “When the second one came, I just…(left my body). I felt it would be better to dissociate,” she shared, pausing to catch her breath.
This mother, who chose to remain anonymous, is just one of over 700 victims of extreme violence who have passed through the Comprehensive Care Center (CAI) in Mexico City run by Doctors Without Borders. The facility is one of the few providing psychological assessment and treatment for migrants who have endured unspeakable acts of violence in their home countries or during their journey, such as rape, abduction, and torture.
While there is a lack of data on violence against migrants due to underreporting, healthcare providers at CAI have observed a rise in cases of what they term as “extreme violence”, including rape, violent kidnappings, and severe physical abuse. The center not only offers medical care for the physical wounds but also collaborates with specialized hospitals for trauma, mobility, and neurological issues. Treatment plans often involve family members, particularly children who have witnessed such horrific violence.
In addition to healthcare, CAI provides support for accommodation, meals, immigration paperwork, and safety measures, recognizing that addressing these fundamental needs is crucial for the patients to engage in therapy. The center is working on remote and hybrid care options to enable patients to continue treatment even after they leave for border crossings or seek employment.
Amid concerns that stricter migration policies under a new U.S. administration could worsen the plight of migrants, analysts and advocates fear that prolonged stays in Mexico due to obstacles in reaching the U.S. could expose migrants to increased violence in regions controlled by organized crime. For instance, a transgender man from Venezuela undergoing psychological treatment at CAI still suffers from the physical effects of being bound and tied for two days.
A man found himself on the wrong side of a construction site in the northern city of Monterrey. What started as a response to an online job ad for work at a restaurant quickly turned into a nightmare when he was abducted by individuals he had believed were potential employers.
Recalling the harrowing experience, the man shared, “A man very calmly told me, ‘Look, we’re not going to leave you for dead … We’re just going to take some things.’ What I thought was that they were going to take my organs.” Speaking anonymously out of fear of reprisal, he managed a daring escape and fled until he could locate a taxi to safety. “My intention was to work, not to get killed,” he emphasized.
The Mexican coalition of human rights organizations, known as REDODEM, has raised concerns over the escalating brutality faced by migrants in recent years. Sara Lopez, REDODEM’s data chief, expressed the alarming rise in violent incidents, with many migrants arriving at shelters bearing visible signs of physical trauma. Lopez noted, “These types of situations of violence have us quite worried because they have increased a lot. Many people are entering (the shelters) with visible signs of violence on their bodies, particularly on the faces, arms, necks. It is very shocking.”
The surge in cases has been attributed to the growing number of women and children undertaking perilous migratory journeys, rendering them more susceptible to extreme violence, especially when traveling alone, according to Marquez. Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed a 73% increase in encounters with migrant family units at the southern border in fiscal year 2024 compared to the previous year.
Marquez highlighted the complex and challenging circumstances faced by mothers who not only become patients but also the primary caregivers responsible for providing sustenance, financial support, and a secure environment for their families. The ordeal of a Venezuelan mother, who endured sexual violence in the treacherous Darien Gap, continues to manifest in persistent panic attacks. “I tried for a long time to convince myself that this wasn’t happening to me,” she shared, expressing uncertainty about broaching the subject with her husband despite both acknowledging the traumatic event. “I know that he felt helpless.”
As the plight of migrants navigating dangerous routes persists, the vulnerabilities of women and children demand urgent attention to safeguard their well-being and address the escalating risks they face throughout their journeys towards safety and stability.
(Reporting by Cassandra Garrison and Bernat Parera)
