Henry Esquivel

NECOCLI (Columbia) – An influx mostly of Haitian migrants looking to travel northward towards the United States has forced Necocli residents out of their homes. Residents claim that landlords favour migrants who can pay in dollars.

After the removal of COVID-19 border closings, the backlog of migrants awaiting boat transport to the Darien Gap, Panama’s jungles, has increased to nearly 19,000

Many migrants are forced to sleep in tents on the beach or in their homes because they lack cash. Others can rent apartments or houses by the hour.

This has resulted in dozens of permanent residents.

Yesid Puche, a dance instructor, said that the owners of the house simply said, “They need us to leave as soon as possible.”

“It’s quite sad from a moral perspective that some of the people who grew up in your hometown will ignore you just for a few dollars.”

For the Haitians, it is an extremely long and difficult journey to North America.

Many people have lived for years in Latin American nations like Brazil or Chile, and some claim that they were subject to racism. Numerous families with young children want to move to America to pursue better opportunities.

Locals find it advantageous to rent out their homes to migrants, particularly given the 11% decline in the Colombian peso this year.

Francisco Mejia said, “It has all of the basic necessities, electricity, water. They have a cooking area where they can prepare their own food. And they also have a toilet.” He rents it to immigrants for $6 per head.

Re-use even commercial property.

Wilfredo Menco, Necocli’s prosecutor stated that around 100 houses have been taken by local renters in order to be given to Haitians. Additionally, approximately 50 commercial locations have also been taken or ended contracts to rent to Haitians.

After the United States has expelled nearly 4,000 Haitians, U.N. agencies called for countries to refrain from exiling them without first evaluating their legal needs.