Civic Leader Education & Advocacy Program (CLEAP) participants spent their first full day in Mexico City learning about policy issues including the history of migration, forced displacement due to climate change and militarization of Mexico’s borders.
On the agenda for Tuesday, July 4:
History of migration - Facilitated by Alan Muñoz, participants reacted to research by Professor Melissa Siegel about the history of migration to better understand the intersectionality and interconnectedness of migration policies and politics in both the U.S. and Mexico. During the discussion, participants examined the influence of Euro-centric models on the U.S. immigration framework, resulting in policies that favor specific groups, and also explored the significant influence that the U.S. has on Mexico's migration policies.
Militarization of Mexico's borders - Facilitated by Mateo Lozano, participants reacted to research by Alicia Moncada and Eduardo Rojas about the militarization of Mexico's southern and northern borders to better understand the intended and unintended consequences, especially to human rights, when transit countries like Mexico use the military for domestic immigration enforcement, and the role and influence that the U.S. plays in these policies.
Climate migration - Facilitated by Beatriz Soto, participants reacted to a New York Times news report titled, The Great Climate Migration, to better understand the intersectionality of climate change and migration, and the impact on South and Central America, Mexico, and the U.S. It is estimated that by 2050, 216 million people could be displaced by climate change. Of that number, 17 million people are estimated to live in Latin America.
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