Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - "An important aspect of the Declaration is a common commitment to eradicate the structural causes of irregular migration of children, by creating programs of social and economic development in the communities of origin, such as programs of rehabilitation and reintegration for those who return": this is what the "Joint Declaration of the Bishops of the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras on the crisis of migrant children" said and sent to Fides, after the meeting of the representatives of the Episcopate of Central American countries involved in the serious problem (see Fides 28/06/2014).
The declaration, published on July 10 in Mexico City, supports and raises the "Extraordinary Declaration of Managua", in which the member countries of the Regional Conference on Immigration (Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Dominican Republic), "recognized regional responsibility and are committed: to putting into effect global and articulated measures to ensure the best interests of children and adolescents and family unity; to disseminate accurate information about the 'dangers of the journey' and the fact that 'permits' do not exist for those who come to the United States; to combat organized criminal groups for smuggling and human trafficking; to improve migratory procedures".
With this declaration, the Bishops of the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras also expressed themselves in favor of the request to the House of Representatives of the United States to declare a state of "humanitarian crisis" with regards to the problem of migrant children.
According to the latest data, between October 2013 and June 2014 more than 57,000 children arrived at the U.S. border illegally, without being accompanied by an adult, in the area of the Rio Grande Valley (Texas). The U.S. government in Washington has already warned that this figure will undoubtedly increase. The Church is working to assist young emigrants (see Fides 11/06/2014), and to recognize many of them as refugees, fleeing from situations of war (see Fides 24/06/2014). (CE) (Agenzia Fides 11/07/2014)
