April on the Move: Latin America’s Migration Pulse

Introduction

In April 2025, migration and human rights dynamics across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States remained shaped by intense political, legal, and social tensions. In the U.S., policies promoted during the Trump administration continue to provoke legal controversies and undermine due process for migrants. Simultaneously, in Latin America, the suspension of international funding has weakened the humanitarian response capacity of civil society organizations, while increasing migration flows have further exposed shortcomings in rights protection. In this context, calls persist for strengthened regional cooperation and fulfillment of international migration commitments.

Key Events Related to the Trump Administration

On April 7, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and former U.S. President Donald Trump stated from the Oval Office that they were unable to facilitate the return of Kilmar Ábrego García, a legal U.S. resident mistakenly deported to El Salvador. On April 8, federal judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to submit documents and sworn responses regarding its attempts to repatriate García, warning that failure to comply could result in a contempt ruling. On April 24, Judge Xinis paused the discovery process in the case until April 30, citing a confidential agreement between the parties.

On April 9, Judge James Boasberg ruled that the Trump administration likely acted in contempt by failing to stop deportation flights of Venezuelans to El Salvador, despite his previous ruling that barred such deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.

During the week of April 7–13, the Trump administration implemented a new migration policy allowing immigration judges to dismiss asylum cases without a hearing, undermining due process and complicating the defense of legitimate claims. Additionally, the Department of Justice reduced the number of members on the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) from 28 to 15, exacerbating case backlogs. Several Biden-era appointees were removed, with the measure justified by alleged structural inefficiencies.

On April 18, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the deportation of 50 Venezuelans from Anson, Texas under the Alien Enemies Act due to inadequate notice on how to contest their removal. Furthermore, a judge in Colorado ordered that detainees be notified in Spanish and given 21 days to appeal before deportation. In response, President Trump criticized judicial procedures for non-citizens, arguing that they cause excessive delays.

Responses to the Impact of Funding Suspension

In response to the suspension of international funding, the Regional Office for Central America and Mexico of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, alongside 33 regional civil society organizations, produced a report on its impact on the protection of the human rights of people in mobility.

According to the report, 52% of the participating organizations had received indirect funding from USAID, either through other foundations or consortia with stronger financial management capacity. Given this scenario, 58% of the organizations foresee a total shutdown of operations within 6 months (87%) or 12 months (13%) if new funding does not materialize.

The analysis identified four key approaches: collaborative action, emergency strategies, preventive measures, and emerging actions.

Collaborative Action and Advocacy

Strengthening joint efforts among NGOs, networks, and collectives at local, national, and regional levels to:

• Provide humanitarian assistance.
• Disseminate timely and useful information.
• Support affected populations.
• Engage in political advocacy for the protection of rights.

Continuous Monitoring of Impacts, Risks, and Needs

Emergency Strategies

• Internal reorganization to optimize resources: downsizing work areas and humanitarian staff.
• Mitigation analysis: optimizing and prioritizing resources.
• Strengthening collaboration among networks and collectives at all levels to enable joint action in humanitarian aid, information dissemination, support for populations, and advocacy for rights protection.
• Monitoring, advocacy, and visibility of impacts, risks, and needs in the current context.

Preventive Strategies for Sustainability

• Community-based cash and in-kind fundraising campaigns.
• Digital fundraising initiatives.
• Establishment of emergency and investment funds.
• Fund diversification.
• Volunteer programs.
• Joint projects with other NGOs and networks.
• Major donor campaigns.

New Emerging Initiatives

• Strengthen organizations, networks, and collectives in developing preventive sustainability and independence strategies such as fund diversification, investment systems, and emergency reserves.
• Promote knowledge-sharing spaces among organizations to exchange best practices.
• Deepen engagement with grassroots communities to foster solidarity and empathy.
• Launch fundraising campaigns in origin, transit, and destination communities, as well as in those more sensitive to the issue.
• Raise funds through individual donations from personalities in film, music, the arts, and other industries.
• Advocate for these impacts before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), UN human rights mechanisms, and other high-level bodies.
• Continue building synergies between networks engaged in advocacy and litigation on issues affecting civil society organizations.
• Return to and strengthen our roots: revive traditional practices and knowledge of individual, collective, and organizational care.

Global Compact for Migration: From Latin America and the Caribbean

During the Second Regional Review of the Global Compact for Migration, held in Santiago, Chile, it was confirmed that Latin America and the Caribbean continue to face serious challenges in protecting migrants.

In the past decade, the number of migrants from the region has doubled, surpassing 48 million in 2024, with 55% residing in the United States and 8.5% in Spain, according to UN data. This increase is occurring amid growing violence, exploitation, and lack of protection, reflected in the disappearance of 1,176 migrants and the crossing of nearly 4,500 unaccompanied minors through the Darién jungle in 2024.

Despite the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in 2018, many countries in the region continue to impose restrictive measures, criminalize migrants, and create barriers to their socioeconomic integration. In response, civil society has called on states to fulfill their commitments, ensure the effective participation of migrants and their organizations in decision-making processes, and address the structural causes of forced migration through coherent policies—particularly in light of the upcoming 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF).

Conclusion

The current landscape—marked by restrictive migration policies in the U.S., reduced international funding, and non-compliance with global commitments—highlights the urgent need to protect people on the move across Latin America. This scenario demands the design and revision of strategies built collaboratively among all stakeholders, aiming to deliver sustainable solutions to the increasing vulnerability of migrant populations. Most importantly, states must fully assume their responsibilities, ensure the participation of migrants and their civil society organizations in decision-making, and promote coherent public policies that address the structural drivers of forced migration.

References

1. Oficina Regional para América Central y México del Alto Comisionado de la ONU para los Derechos Humanos. (10 de abril de 2025). Reunión Conjunta de los Sectores Regionales de Protección R4V – REDLAC.
2. HIAS. (18 de abril de 2025). Los derechos de los refugiados y la Administración Trump: 18      de abril de 2025. https://hias.org/es/noticias/refugee-rights-and-trump-administration-april18-2025/
3. HIAS. (25 de abril de 2025). Los derechos de los refugiados y la Administración Trump: 25      de abril de 2025. https://hias.org/es/noticias/refugee-rights-and-trump-administration-april25-2025/
4. Dejusticia. (18 de abril de 2025). Pacto Mundial para la Migración: ¿estamos cumpliendo desde América Latina y el Caribe? https://www.dejusticia.org/migracion-en-america-latinaen-2025/