It Could Happen Here CZM Rewind: They Don’t Care About Us: What Migrants Leave Behind
Dec 30, 2025
In this discussion, Erika Pinheiro, a legal expert from Alotrolado, unpacks the complexities surrounding Temporary Protected Status and the hurdles migrants face in the U.S. She emphasizes the limitations and risks tied to undocumented travel while illuminating the desperate journeys of Venezuelans and African migrants navigating the Darién Gap. The emotional trials of parenthood during perilous treks, and the harsh realities of survival, are also explored, shedding light on the resilience and hope that drive these individuals forward despite immense challenges.
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Jungle's Psychological Weight On Travelers
- The Darién Gap exerts a profound psychological weight beyond physical danger.
- James Stout notes the jungle's foreboding atmosphere and the constant awareness of mortality among travelers.
U.S. Policy Drives Regional Displacement
- U.S. foreign policy has directly shaped the instability driving migration from Latin America.
- James Stout links dictatorship support, sanctions, and extractive economics to mass displacement northward.
Climate Loss Multiplies Migration
- Climate change and environmental decline compound economic drivers of migration.
- James Stout notes islanders and farmers losing livelihoods push people toward cities and across borders.