stance on the migrant caravan for or against

The migrant caravan comprises thousands of refugees from Central America: mainly Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. One cannot be “for” or “against” the caravan itself because it already exists. However, it is possible to develop a cogent response to how the United States should address the challenges posed by the migrant caravan. There are no simple solutions to the migrant caravan; an ethical response requires a close examination of how to feasibly balance the needs for human rights versus the potential for American communities to adapt to a sudden influx of refugees. Ultimately, the United States does need to treat the migrant caravan as an opportunity to reconsider its role in the Pan-American economic, political, and social landscape. I agree with sensible processing of the migrant caravan, and disagree that the people comprising the caravan should be harassed, neglected, or turned away automatically.
Humanitarian ethics are one of the most commonly cited reasons for supporting an asylum approach to the caravan. As Neil_profitt points out, the American government “must not turn its back” on the crisis and the real needs of these human beings, who are “in need of a hand.” It would be unethical to turn away those in dire need of help, especially in a country with a clear capacity for providing assistance. John Stevenson uses the key word “empathy” to describe the appropriate cognitive and emotional framework for addressing the issue. Anyone who was in a similar position would all but expect that a wealthy nation, one built on the principles of freedom, liberty, justice, and the right to pursue happiness, would willingly offer help in whatever way was possible.
Another reason for supporting the migrant caravan is that it would help address the systemic issues related to immigration and economic policy. For example, John Stevenson states that the United States can “help address the root problems of violence, poverty, and unemployment” by examining the root problems in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The migrant caravan is a symptom of a larger problem, and should be viewed as such rather than treated as an isolated incident. Until the systemic issues of wealth inequity and ongoing post-colonial exploitation are addressed, more caravans like these will appear at the borders until it reaches a crisis point. The United States cannot afford to slip into a tyrannical, authoritarian, or militaristic regime whereby it uses violence to squelch movements like these: which would be an affront to the nation’s values.
In fact, there are few legitimate arguments to be made for why the caravan should be turned away without any attempt to offer help. For example, both Plastic Angel and voyager2k claim that the refugees in the caravan are “takers” who want to “cut in front of the line,” and that “fair is fair.” It is illogical for a person, let alone a whole family, to risk everything and endure the harrowing journey from southern Central America to the United States-Mexico border, and only want to cheat the system. To be a “taker” is to be unwilling to make sacrifices; these are people whose lives epitomize sacrifice. Their plight does not hinder the visa applications made by those who do not need to claim refugee status in any way, and there is no unfair activity at all. These are simply people who are willing to risk their lives to seek a better future.
The best way to approach the migrant caravan is to put together a team of analysts from different sectors who can come up with a feasible solution, including how to best place the people in self-sustaining communities, how to provide them with their immediate needs for food, shelter, and security, and how to plan for their future in accordance with the needs of their host communities. Similarly, the United States needs to come up with a more sensible economic policy that empowers the countries of Latin America to develop their economies in ways that prevents such crises in the future. At the moment, the caravan needs to be dealt with on humanitarian grounds.









Works Cited

Fry, Wendy. “Facing no way into U.S., some caravan members head home.” San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov, 2018. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/border-baja-california/sd-me-two-tents-20181126-story.html