Nicaraguan Families Suffer Increased Trauma Due to Migration Laws

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This Christmas, many Nicaraguan families find themselves grappling with separation and loss due to recent immigration reforms enacted by the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. Since 2018, over 900,000 Nicaraguans have fled the country, seeking refuge from political persecution and economic crisis. As the festive season approaches, the emotional pain of family separation is heightened, with almost every family affected by the ongoing exodus.

The recent amendments to the Immigration and Foreigners Law, which include severe penalties for individuals attempting to leave or enter Nicaragua without state approval, have intensified the situation. Families like that of an anonymous individual referred to as Marcos faced the heartbreak of abandoning plans to visit relatives living in exile due to fears of imprisonment or increased surveillance at borders.

The impact of these policies reaches beyond immediate family members. The organization Concertación Democrática Nicaragüense Monteverde (CDN) highlights that Christmas traditions have been disrupted, with gatherings and reunions thwarted by government repression. Thousands of families are unable to spend the holidays together, as evidenced by the story of nun Azucena Bracamonte Valle, who was denied re-entry into Nicaragua after a trip abroad.

Opposition leaders are raising awareness of this ongoing crisis through campaigns that document the stories of those affected by political exile and family separation. As the Ortega-Murillo regime continues to suppress dissent, many Nicaraguans are left hoping for a future marked by peace and reunion.

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