Christmas Highlighted by Family Separation Crisis in Nicaragua
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As Christmas approaches, many Nicaraguan families find themselves grappling with the emotional pain of separation, exacerbated by the ongoing political repression under the Ortega-Murillo regime. Since 2018, over 900,000 Nicaraguans have fled the country to escape political persecution and economic hardship, impacting nearly every family in the nation of just over six million people.
New immigration reforms, enacted by the Sandinista Parliament at the end of November, have heightened these tensions. The changes impose severe penalties, including prison sentences, for those attempting to leave Nicaragua. Families like that of Marcos—whose name is pseudonymous for safety—had excited plans to reunite for Christmas in Costa Rica but were forced to cancel amid fears of arrest and increased border surveillance.
This situation has been underscored by the story of Azucena Bracamonte Valle, a nun who was denied entry back into Nicaragua after years abroad, merely on the grounds of alleged “treason.” The plight of families torn apart by the regime is echoed in the sentiments shared by members of the opposition group, Concertación Democrática Nicaragüense, who launched the campaign “Every life tells us a story” to illuminate the struggles of exiled families.
Former political prisoner Juan Sebastián Chamorro, a noted opposition leader, emphasizes the deep sorrow experienced by Nicaraguans during the holiday season, which now serves as a stark reminder of the families separated by the dictatorship. Despite the regime’s claims of providing peace and prosperity, many Nicaraguans contend that the leadership is actively destroying the fabric of familial bonds. As thousands face yet another holiday apart, the affected families hold on to faith, hope, and the yearning for reunion.