By Fernanda Noriega
This has been a difficult year for Haiti, with several natural disasters that devastated some areas of the country in the middle of this year. Then the situation worsened when on July 7, President Jovenel Moise was assassinated. Following this, jobs became scarce, insecurity increased, and many families found themselves in precarious conditions with constant anguish because of crime. The difficult political situation in the country led many Haitians to consider leaving their native land, their place of origin, to search for better life opportunities for themselves and their families. Several months have passed since these events took place, but the circumstances only seem to get worse, and that is why many made the decision to emigrate, even though uncertainty was always part of the equation. Not all have managed to leave, but Mexico has received some of them and efforts are being made to help them improve their quality of life.
The National Institute of Migration, has done its part in response to the immigration problem. A QR code has been provided with the address of the migration offices in both San Miguel de Allende and León de los Aldama Guanajuato for those who wish to follow the procedures to get a temporary residence of one year in Mexico. Last week, dozens of people, including entire families from different areas of Haiti arrived in San Miguel and León. They were, however, held outside those offices for several days. One of the immigrants who arrived in San Miguel was Pierrelus Markely who came with his wife and little daughter. He told us that for days they were sleeping outdoors, without food, and tolerating the rain that fell for two days in the city, “It was very cold and I was worried about my daughter and my wife, but we had to wait for them to help us with the residence to find where to go.” It was not until Friday, December 17, that they were taken by staff and volunteers to the Union, known as “el recreo” on Recreo Street, in the Centro area. “They came for us, several people came and brought us here so that we have a roof over our heads while we are passing through San Miguel. Some people have come to see us, they talk with us, they bring us food or money to pay the passage because all of us here have a different destination; Mexicans and the people who live here have been in solidarity with us,” said Pierrelus. The Union has adapted the kitchen, the lounges and the cellar so that people can live together and be at peace while passing through San Miguel. The theater has been adapted as well to become a sleeping area.
The residence status that the National Migration Institute is granting them provides them with a CURP code. This guarantees that they have access to the health system, education and the right to work within Mexico for one year. They are asked if they want to stay in Guanajuato or if there a state where they prefer to settle in. Some of them are choosing to leave for Ciudad Juárez, Tijuana and other destinations with the help of donations and volunteering.
The facilities at the Union are filled with people sharing food in the dining room, children playing and running through the corridors, adults sharing their time with others with music or talking. The atmosphere is pleasant despite the difficult situation. They have done a census that shows a total of 84 people in total. The Union staff, the foreign community and the citizens of San Miguel form part of the volunteer task force that has continued to support Haitians. They collect food supplies, provide transportation for those who have completed their paperwork and must leave for their assigned destination. They also bring in doctors, two pediatricians and one gynecologist, who attend children and pregnant women in particular. This help-network has generated an atmosphere of hospitality. It has also confirmed that everyone is in good health, and that it is only a matter of everyone being channeled to their place of residence. As Pierrelus likes to state: they find a job that allows them access to a home and the optimal conditions to forge a quiet and safe life in Mexico during 2022; then they will have to decide what is next for them.
