This is the story of María, a Venezuelan migrant who tried to make a living in Ecuador first before risking everything to come to the US through the Darién Gap. The security situation in Ecuador pushed her to make the decision of bringing her two young children and her mother through the Darién Gap to reunite with her in the US.
Movement restrictions, often promoted by the United States, have pushed migrants and asylum seekers to cross the Darién Gap, exposing them to abuse and empowering organized crime.
The devastating stories of abuses of people who try to cross the Darién Gap are the result of failed immigration policies that push people into danger.
Governments in the Americas should take steps towards ensuring rights-respecting immigration policies, including by increasing safe and legal pathways for migration and ensuring access to asylum.
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