As conflicts worsen in the “Northern Triangle” of Central America, FM4 Paso Libre continues to welcome migrants, asylum seekers and political refugees arriving on foot or train every day.
Situated by the railway in Guadalajara’s Arcos neighborhood, the bustling non-profit organization has embraced the throng of Hondurans, Guatemalans and Salvadorans escaping violence and economic instability over the years. Lately, more internally displaced Mexicans from Oaxaca, Tabasco, Guerrero and Chiapas have started to show up, as well as deportees from the United States.
“We work under the statement that people have human rights, no matter their migratory status,” said María José Lazcano, FM4’s advocacy coordinator.
Originally, FM4 functioned as a “soup kitchen” for eight hours a day; now it is a 24/7 shelter with a capacity of 100, offering a range of holistic services, from health and wellness to legal aid. Today, a team of pro-bono paralegals registers newcomers as refugees or asylum-seekers, in addition to onsite psychologists providing emotional assistance. Likewise, the association collects donations and conducts social integration initiatives, such as job placement in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Other efforts include research, public relations, policy and social advocacy.
“We have a distinction between policy and social advocacy,” said Lazcano. “We work a lot with schools, students, churches. A lot of our donations come from civil society groups and private donors. We also have some of our cash donations from international organizations. The shelter runs on donations.”
Last November, FM4 collaborated with the Jalisco state government to prepare for the migrant caravan at the Benito Juárez auditorium. Besides mobilizing the undertaking, representatives monitored state authorities to ensure no human right violations materialized. Though content with the state’s performance, organizers didn’t approve of the roadside rescue points set up between Guadalajara and Nayarit once accommodations expired.
“We didn’t agree with that measure or action,” said Lazcano, who would have preferred the temporary shelter to have stayed open longer. “We thought it was dangerous. Rescue points were on the side of the highway and there were women, children and vulnerable people. They didn’t have a place to sleep, so we didn’t think it was a good idea to provide them with humanitarian assistance in those areas.”
Another ongoing project for FM4 is guaranteeing a statewide “Ley de la Hospitalidad” (Hospitality Law) to allocate migrants more pathways to citizenship or protected refugee status – hence the growing number of paralegals. The national framework under Mexico’s Immigration Law passed in 2011 makes immigration cases federal issues. However, many states end up legislating counteractive policies to make it more difficult for migrants to seek assistance, such as getting access to health services without risking deportation.
“Mainly, we want to align our state regulations with national immigration law,” said Lazcano. “Some of our laws here in Jalisco, as well as other states in Mexico, are internal laws. They aren’t always aligned with the national law. It makes it difficult for migrants and refugees to access and exercise their rights.”
While Mexico’s reception of migrants varies from state to state, a person’s socioeconomic standing lies at the core of recent animosity against migrants and nationals in the border city of Tijuana. Ongoing prejudices reflect societal bias and misconceptions against “poor migrants” desperate to find employment, according to Lazcano. Therefore, the immigration crisis isn’t just a humanitarian issue, but economic as well.
“A lot of people moving through Mexico need jobs, not only to stay in the country but also to continue their journey,” said Lazcano.“That’s why sometimes you see a lot of people at the traffic lights because they don’t only need money to stay in the country but mostly they’d like to continue their journey. For them to get a job, it dignifies the way they live.”
Around 80 percent of arrivals continue traveling to the United States while the rest remain in Mexico, according to Lazcano. Over the years, the number of migrants settling down in Mexico has increased due to ongoing hostility from the Trump administration. As more caravans are expected to come in the future, FM4 will have their work cut out for them.
“Our main goal right now as an organization is to focus on the next migrant caravan and to provide them with strong humanitarian assistance,” said Lazcano. “We also want to ensure that governments here in Jalisco and other parts of Mexico can give them the possibility to choose between staying and leaving and that we have systems for them inside Mexico so they don’t remain as ‘migrants’ because that puts them in a very vulnerable position.”
Like other non-profit organizations, FM4 depends on donations, whether they be clothing, shoes, blankets, provisions, etc. Materials can be dropped off seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the shelter on Calle Calderón de la Barca 468A.