Introduction
Border crisis arises from dignity and human rights issues, which threaten national security at the border region. The major cause of the border crisis developed from immigration issues during the Cold War, where poverty, political instability, and crimes of violence stemmed in support of authoritative administrations. Border crises are characterized by the rapid increase of women and children who cross border checks or entry points unlawfully. National security is maintained at the borders by processing everyone with a series of questions before they are allowed in. As highlighted in this article, the border issue between the United States and Mexico impacts people from the two countries and international relations, causing a significant worldwide appeal for quick and lasting resolutions to be established.
Major Concerns
Lack of sufficient protection among asylum seekers and migrants is the first major concern of the border crisis. Asylum seekers seek shelter at the border by providing evidence that they have faced persecution in their home country or fear facing persecution in the future. Asylum seekers flee from forced recruitment by drug traffickers, gangs, and death threats (Sarabia, 2020). The refuge seekers at the Mexico border hoping to enter the US often struggle and face abuses in an attempt to obtain protection (Sarabia, 2020). As a result of anti-migration policies aimed at preventing entry at the border, asylum seekers face abuse and delays. They are subjected to inhumane conditions for long periods as they wait for entry approval.
Secondly, disappearances and torture are among the problems encountered at the migration borders. As an effect of torture, through seeking approval of entry at the borders, children disappear to seek protection. Similarly, during the processing of the legality of asylum seekers, families are separated into different prisons, resulting in unexplained disappearances (Laakkonen, 2022). Family members of the disappeared persons are left to deal with mental torture as they do not know whether they are alive or dead (Laakkonen, 2022). Children face problems locating where their parents because they cannot communicate with the guards.
Thirdly, asylum seekers encounter gender and sexual violence during the immigration process. Sex trafficking and assault happen at detention centers in different forms. Women and girls are usually exploited sexually at the borders through kidnap, rape, and trafficking during migration shutdowns. One in four women report issues of sexual abuse at detention centers. Most women cannot access basic healthcare services or support their families (Alberto & Chilton, 2019). Exposure to unsanitary conditions as they wait for processing for immigration is another problem faced by women at the border.
The fourth issue is violence against journalists and human rights defenders. There are various cases of planned crimes of the murder of journalists who go to seek truth in the detaining areas. Human rights defenders are killed in an attempt to seek justice for detained asylum seekers (Sarabia, 2020). Journalists and human rights defenders face other hostilities, including death threats and workplace persecution (Sarabia, 2020). Others have reported cases of physical beating, sexual abuse, and threatening phone calls from guard personnel at the detaining centers.
Approaches to Fix the Issues
The first approach would require the government to govern migration policies to offer asylum seekers advocates to help them with their claims. Most asylum seekers are detained for years before their cases are processed and allowed entry. These individuals should be offered a system of legal representation. It is seen that migrants without legal representation always face longer periods of detainment than those without representation (Sarabia, 2020). Strengthening the legal orientation rubric to aid applicants’ ability to defend their application rather than fast-tracking the case can be a helpful way to reduce the periods and number of detainees.
Secondly, the nation employs policies to control the refugee seekers’ disappearances and torture. The government should incorporate new approaches to curb insecurity by strategizing security officers to stop violence against asylum seekers. The disappeared people can be traced back to their families through forensic assistance by providing a national genetics database (Laakkonen, 2022). Asylum seekers, in the wait processing of their cases, should be offered accessible good healthcare services, work, and education for their children (Laakkonen, 2022). The police and immigrant agents found to torture the detained persons should be brought out to justice.
The third approach would be to advance human rights to end Sexual violence during migration processes. Extending human rights policies along the borders would aid in ending rape. Laws and standards should be established to allow asylum seekers to have their cases heard without being abused sexually (Alberto & Chilton, 2019). Security guards and police should prioritize Respect and dignity for those seeking refuge. There should be migrant protection protocols that guide migration agencies and security guards in providing services without exploiting migrants sexually.
The fourth approach would be to put restraining measures on violence against journalists and human rights defenders. The federal groups are supposed to provide protection strategies to aid journalists and human rights activists as they seek justice for asylum seekers. Measures to improve security can range from providing them with bulletproof vests and security cameras and administering security officers for journalists and human rights activities (Sarabia, 2020). Further, the government should investigate and punish individuals who harass journalists and human rights defenders.
Conclusion
Thousands of people seek asylum procedures to access better living conditions. Subjecting these people to more torture and abuse is inhumane and should be stopped. The government should put more measures to investigate the kinds of abuse those people go through. The government should then improve the conditions of detained migrants and not send them back to harm back home. There should be measures to allow the migrants access to advocates to aid in processing their cases in detail and on time.
References
Alberto, C., & Chilton, M. (2019). Transnational violence against asylum-seeking women and children: Honduras and the United States-Mexico border. Human Rights Review, 20(2), 205–227. Web.
Laakkonen, V. (2022). Deaths, disappearances, borders: Migrant disappearability as a technology of deterrence. Political Geography, 99, 102767. Web.
Sarabia, H. (2020). Migrants, activists, and the Mexican state: Framing violence, rights, and solidarity along the U.S.-Mexico border. Citizenship Studies, 24(4), 512–529. Web.