5 key actions to protect the lives of migrants in transit through the Americas

The year 2023, with 8,600 migrants deceased or missing, was the deadliest year for migrants since 2014, when the International Organization for Migration's Missing Migrants Project began keeping this record. Going missing or losing one's life during an irregular migration journey is a latent risk.

In the Americas, during the year 2023, 1,275 lives were lost due to thousands of migrants in our region being pushed to use irregular migratory routes, through jungles, deserts, inhospitable places, dangerous roads, or having to navigate risky maritime routes even under extreme environmental conditions. 

Here are five key actions to protect the welfare and lives of migrants in transit: 

1. Implement Objective 8 of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration 

Through this instrument, States committed to "save lives and establish coordinated international efforts on missing migrants". The GCM calls for examining search and rescue procedures and agreements, the effects of migration policies and laws, dangerous migration laws and routes on migrants; facilitating communication with their families in countries of origin; and calls for improving transnational and consular cooperation; and systematizing the recovery and repatriation of remains.   

So far, efforts by States in the region to implement Goal 8 of the Pact have been limited. Until its review in 2022, virtually no country had demonstrated significant progress, with a few exceptions. 

2. Improve databases and documentation on migrants who have died or disappeared during transit

In the Americas, few States collect accurate data on missing migrants, which creates gaps or lack of information. Efforts should be redoubled to improve the collection, analysis and sharing of accurate, reliable and comparable data, disaggregated by sex, age, and migratory status. Procedures should also be established to improve the bilateral or regional exchange of information and data, in line with data protection principles. 

SDG indicator 10.7.3 of the 2030 Agenda also reaffirms the importance of quantifying the number of migrants who die during migratory transit.  Objective 1 of the Global Compact on Migration calls for the creation of databases to improve the international comparability and compatibility of national migration statistics and data systems, particularly on deceased and missing migrants. 

3. Increase accessible pathways for safe and regular mobility

The most effective way to prevent migrant deaths and disappearances is to create more regular migration pathways to prevent migrants from being forced to take irregular routes that put their lives at risk. Too many migrant smuggling groups spread misinformation about irregular migration routes that pose a great danger. 

Therefore, states and organizations must act to strengthen policies like migration regularization and the guarantee of regular transit through transit countries. The creation or promotion of migration laws and policies that criminalize irregular migration pushes migrants to use irregular routes that put their integrity and lives at risk (MMP, 2023). 

4. Expand search and rescue efforts and provide humanitarian assistance and protection for missing migrants 

As highlighted in Objective 8 of the Global Compact on Migration, strengthening transnational search and rescue mechanisms to locate migrants who are unaccounted for is essential to provide support for their families. Migrants in danger or distress should receive all possible assistance.   

At sea, this includes assistance from ships in the vicinity (including captains and crews), from coastal governments and land-based authorities, and from all parties involved in the shipping industry, so that people can be rescued and disembarked promptly in a place of safety and treated fairly. 

On land routes, search and rescue operations must also be carried out and more protection channels must be provided to provide humanitarian assistance, access to health services, water, as well as internet access to communicate with their families in the countries of origin. 

5. Putting the issue on the public and political agenda in the Americas 

Disappearances or losing lives during migratory transit is one of the least visible and least explored humanitarian dimensions in the world. Despite its magnitude, it is barely addressed in the political agenda of states and in the public agenda of the media.   

When the Missing Migrants Project began its monitoring work for the Americas in 2020, it was identified that one of the main gaps in this issue was that there was no multisectoral and inclusive space to discuss issues exclusively related to migrant deaths and disappearances in the Americas.   

In March 2023, the Network on Missing Migrants in the Americas was officially launched as the only permanent forum and knowledge community in the Americas to position the issue on the public and political agenda, dedicated to generating an informed, evidence-based debate on migrant deaths and disappearances. 

Thousands of migrants have disappeared in Central America, Mexico and the United States during their migratory journeys to the north of the continent. When a migrant stops communicating with family members, families begin a long search process and often encounter legal and bureaucratic obstacles. In addition, they have to navigate a system that is confusing, complex and generally inaccessible to most families (MMP,2021). 

As you read this article, there are thousands of people in transit along irregular migratory routes facing the risk of disappearing or losing their lives during their journey. This is why a call to action is necessary for States to effectively implement the commitments made in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, in conjunction with civil society organizations, family committees, academia, United Nations agencies and international organizations, in order to save lives. 

For more information please visit: https://missingmigrants.iom.int/