Integrating into a new place is a multidimensional and complicated process. In the region covered by the Central American Integration System (SICA), migrants are likely to face numerous barriers in accessing education and healthcare. They may experience discrimination, and struggle to reintegrate when they return to their countries of origin, according to a new study by SICA, in collaboration with IOM and UNHCR.

Migration journeys can affect a person’s mental and physical health in many ways therefore access to health services is essential. Regardless of regular or irregular status, migrants have full coverage under the health systems in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. In Costa Rica, on the other hand, coverage for people who hold an irregular immigration status applies only in emergency situations. To ensure healthcare is readily available, the baseline study suggests that policies are reviewed to allow all migrants to access services, irrespective of their migration status.

With regards to psychosocial care, most countries covered by the study indicated that migrants only have partial access to these services. This situation needs to be improved as psychosocial care is crucial for individual wellbeing as well as reducing general public health costs and promoting social cohesion.

Access to education is an essential aspect of integration, particularly for migrant children and adolescents. Whilst all countries in the region offer some form of education for migrants regardless of whether they have regular and irregular statuses, other barriers result in lower enrolment rates for children with migration backgrounds. In 2018, a study by UNESCO found that only 52 per cent of Haitian-born children living in the Dominican Republic were attending primary school, compared to 79 per cent among those born in the Dominican Republic to immigrant parents and 82 per cent among those born in other countries.

Lack of necessary documentation is a key reason for these disparities in educational attendance. Proof of nationality is required to register in the national education database and sit official examinations. For those who manage to overcome these barriers and enrol, some schools require national identity cards for students to graduate from secondary school. This highlights the need for a cohesive institutional approaches to ensure that all migrants have access to education.

The study by SICA, IOM and UNHCR proposes a number of specific initiatives to create inclusive education systems. Firstly, the creation of specialized technical units in the Ministries of Education to develop mechanisms that respond to the specific needs (cultural, language, etc.) of migrant students. Secondly, the implementation of teaching programs that counteract prejudices against immigrants, as well as transition, corrective and recovery programs that prevent school dropout. Ministerial decision makers, policy makers, administrative staff and teachers should also be trained in how to be inclusive of immigrant students and how to establish models of protection for migrant children and adolescents.

Why work on the reintegration of those who return?

According to the same study by SICA, IOM and UNHCR, as a result of economic crises in North America and Europe, many migrants from the Northern Triangle (Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador) are choosing to return to their countries of origin:

From 2017 to 2018, 164,000 migrants returned to these countries, and January to June 2018 saw a 65 per cent increase in returnees to Guatemala and a 56 per cent increase in returnees to Honduras compared to the same period in the previous year.

For this reason, IOM has worked closely with governments to create public policies in these countries that encourage returning migrants to access the economic, social and cultural opportunities in their communities. Nevertheless, further programs are needed that promote the sustainable reintegration of returning migrants.

According to a study by ECLAC (2018), discriminatory attitudes towards migrants have increased in the region. Migrants who hold irregular statuses are more likely to experience various forms of exploitation and less likely to report instances of discrimination.

Discrimination and xenophobia can be addressed by promoting the value of diversity and respect for migrants through media campaigns, particularly those focusing on the contributions made by migrants in their communities.

As well as migration status, it is important to consider how a person’s social integration may be impacted by their gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, among other factors. 

SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities