Dominican Red Cross joins regional efforts to address evolving migration crisis
Guatemala.- The migrant population in Latin America and the Caribbean increased by 23% in four years, while the reduction of migration routes toward the United States has not translated into fewer humanitarian risks. In 2024 alone, 341 migrant deaths were recorded in the Caribbean and 173 in the Darién Gap, highlighting the continued dangers faced by people on the move.
The situation is being analyzed this week at the REDMAC 2026 Regional Meeting in Antigua, Guatemala, where representatives from 20 national Red Cross societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are discussing strategies to strengthen humanitarian responses.
According to United Nations data cited by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the migrant population in the Americas grew from 14.3 million people in 2020 to 17.5 million in 2024. Nearly 80% of these movements occur within the region, particularly in South America.
Although migration flows toward the United States and through the Darién Gap have decreased since 2024, experts warn that this does not mean the crisis has diminished. Instead, migration routes have changed, risks have shifted and new humanitarian challenges have emerged.
The Dominican Republic is participating in the meeting through Paula Leroux, head of the Doctrine and Protection Department of the Dominican Red Cross and a member of the Regional Migration Network of the Americas and the Caribbean (REDMAC). The country plays a dual role as a place of origin, destination and transit for migrants in the Caribbean, while facing its own challenges related to migration, particularly along its border with Haiti.
One of the main concerns discussed at the meeting is the southward movement of migration flows, with countries such as Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil experiencing increased pressure. Experts warn that these changes are creating new vulnerable areas where humanitarian assistance is more limited and where discrimination against migrants is increasing.
The agenda also addresses the impact of forced returns, mass deportations with limited support, and climate change as factors contributing to mixed migration movements.
Under the theme “Weaving Networks that Transform,” REDMAC 2026 seeks to establish a sustainability plan for the regional network, focusing on humanitarian diplomacy, resource mobilization and the development of response plans to anticipate future migration crises.
The meeting takes place amid growing challenges related to migration policies, including deportation measures implemented by the United States since 2025, which have reshaped regional migration dynamics. For the Dominican Red Cross, the challenge is balancing humanitarian assistance for migrants—mainly Haitians—with the country’s internal debate over border security and migration management.
