Thousands of Senegalese migrants have embarked on a perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean, hoping to reach the United States and escape poverty, unemployment, and political instability in their homeland. They are part of a growing wave of African migrants who are taking advantage of the lax border controls in South America and Central America to make their way north.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 11,000 Senegalese migrants arrived in the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of Africa, in 2020. That was a tenfold increase from the previous year. Many of them continued their journey by flying to Brazil, Colombia, or Panama, where they joined other migrants from Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela.
From there, they faced a long and dangerous trek through the jungles, mountains, and rivers of Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. Along the way, they encountered smugglers, bandits, corrupt officials, and hostile locals. Some of them died or disappeared in the wilderness, while others were deported or detained.
The IOM estimates that about 2,000 Senegalese migrants reached the US-Mexico border in 2020, and more are expected to arrive in 2024. However, their chances of entering the US legally are slim, as the Biden administration has tightened the asylum rules and increased the deportations of undocumented migrants.
The Senegalese government has expressed concern about the situation and urged its citizens to stay home and seek opportunities locally. It has also launched a campaign to raise awareness about the risks and challenges of irregular migration. However, many Senegalese migrants are determined to pursue their American dream, despite the odds.
“I know it’s hard, but I have no choice. I have nothing here. No job, no future, no security. I want to go to America and work hard and send money to my family. I want to give them a better life,” said Moussa Diop, a 25-year-old Senegalese migrant who left his village in 2020 and is now in Mexico, waiting for a chance to cross the border.
Source: AP News
