The Greek coast guard goes out on a daily basis to rescue refugees from sinking boats. They feel as though they have been left to deal with an enormous humanitarian emergency by themselves, while more distant countries natter on about what to do and how many people they can be asked to absorb.
Read MoreViolent crime perpetrated by the “maras”, as the gangs are known, has claimed the lives of 7,500 young Salvadorans since mid-2014. Tens of thousands of Salvadorans, among them large numbers of unaccompanied minors, feel they have no choice but to flee the country.
Read MoreCentral American children fleeing serious threats face formidable obstacles in applying for asylum in Mexico.
Human Rights Watch has documented wide discrepancies between Mexican law and practice. By law, Mexico offers protection to those who face risks to their lives or safety if returned to their countries of origin. But less than 1 percent of children who are apprehended by Mexican immigration authorities are recognized as refugees, according to Mexican government data.
“We do live in fear, and that’s violating our rights too. Nobody should live in fear. Not having the DREAM Act right now is affecting a lot of people. And it’s affecting our human rights, and I feel that the government might not realize that. Or maybe it does, but I don’t know why it hasn’t been passed, if that connection is made. It’s inhumane.”
Read MoreIn 2014, 90,000 unaccompanied minors made the treacherous journey from Central America to the United States. No longer are people simply fleeing poverty, now they are fleeing for their lives.
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