Society & Politics

Living Under a Dictatorship: Grey migration

Migration is not new to my country—Nicaragua. For decades there has been a wave of fellow nationals, migrating to Costa Rica and Panama. There, they've started over, away from family and friends. Few went north and successfully established in Mexico, the US and Canada. A minority went elsewhere; wherever that could provide a higher quality of life.

FSLN leaders
FSLN leaders
Civilians trying to enter a buss
Civilians trying to enter a buss

Between the 70s and 80s, the migration increased exponentially. The ongoing war obligated thousands to leave their homeland. Finally, in 1990, the war ended, the FSLN (ruling party) lost its power against the UNO (Union Nacional Opositora), in democratic elections. From there on, the economy was back on track, education was improving, the country was fairly secure—compared to other Central American countries—, and migration stabilized.

Violeta Chamorro. President of Nicaragua: 1990-1997
Violeta Chamorro. President of Nicaragua: 1990-1997

My entire childhood I lived in the 90s. In the 2000s I experienced my teen years. That lapse of time, democracy perdured.

Exactly, from the events of 2018, the migration grew. People, in Nicaragua—myself included: stop feeling safe. I could no longer take a walk and feel free of taking pictures, without facing the real risk of being detained.

Created by: M. Guillén
Created by: M. Guillén
Created by: Px Molina
Created by: Px Molina
Px Molina
Px Molina
Px Molina. Álvaro Conrado—a 15 years old—said: "Me duele respirar", in 2018; after being shot by the regime armed force. He died.
Px Molina. Álvaro Conrado—a 15 years old—said: "Me duele respirar", in 2018; after being shot by the regime armed force. He died.

In the coming years, migration increased. Costa Rica registered 180,000 assylum aplication—89% of the applicants were Nicaraguan; a frequency never seen before by the neighboring country. Not even during the 80s.

The United Nations notice a worrying increase of Nicaraguan migrants. In September, 2021: 3,164 Nicaraguans migrated to the US. A year later, that number grew exponentially: 92, 037 were detected, lately, on their way to the US.

According to the UN, the actual migration wave is worst than the one that happened in the 80s—In the first Sandinista dictatorship.

Who are exactly the migrants, why they are travelling illegally to the US?

The migrants are from different backgrounds. Some—believe it or not—are professionals (professors, engineers, business men/women, biologist, etc). Others were college students who couldn't finish their carrier. Another part of the migrants don't have an academical formation, but they are hard working people with the capacity of doing jobs most would hesitate to accept. Jobs like: working in construction, cleaning up the streets, working as a gardener, or as maid, or in housecleaning, etc.

I am sure most are migrating with good intentions; although, sadly, not all of them are migrating with a harmless porpoise, by heart.

Among the noble migrants, there are those who are running from their crimes and those who are running to the very place they commited a crime.

Weeks ago I read a case of an inmigrant who was arrested in the US, after he was identified as the author of a murder, in US territory, around the 90s. He now lives in the US, locked up in a jail.

It seems even a US jail is better than living under the shadow of the Sandinista regime.

An interesting portion of the migrants are Sandinistas. They know that they will never be able to travel legally to the US, so they possibly create a false ID, in hope to trick the US immigration system; once in the US-Mexico frontier.

Those Sandinistas who opt for going to the US and to countries like Spain—another destination many nationals consider—are the ones who for one reason or another, stop receiving the benefits of the ruling party, but still identifie as "Sandinista", despite knowing how unwanted they are by the countries elected by convinience.

Personally, I think most fall as economical migrants. Not all fit the requirement of a political assylum; not all are politically persecuted.

Valid economical concerns and security concerns are the main reason why thousands from my homeland—and from Venezuela—are running away to the nearest developed country.

What all of them have in common?

Beside the growing crisis, all share in common the sorrow of leaving their home and the hope of finding a better place, for the sake of their future and the future of their beloved ones.

Immigrants detained in the US
Immigrants detained in the US

Thanks for your time.

Living Under a Dictatorship: Grey migration
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