El Salvador is charging passengers from Africa or India a $1,000 fee, in an apparent bid to curb migration to the US through the Central American country.
People traveling on passports from India or any one of more than 50 African nations will be obliged to pay the fee, El Salvador’s port authority said in a statement on its website dated Oct. 20.
The fee came into effect on October 23, 2023.
The money raised will be used to improve the nation’s main international airport, the authority added.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele this week met Brian Nichols, US assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, to discuss “efforts to address irregular migration,” among other topics. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol encountered a record 3.2 million migrants across the country in fiscal year 2023, which ended in September.
Many migrants from Africa and elsewhere make it to the US via Central America.
Including VAT, the additional cost is $1,130 from travelers from the affected countries. The new fee took effect Oct. 23 and was imposed due to increased use of the country’s main international airport, according to the statement.
Airlines will be required to notify Salvadoran authorities daily of passengers who come from a list of 57 countries in Africa, and India.
Colombian airline Avianca, which is one of the hub’s biggest users, began notifying travelers that passengers from the list of countries must pay the mandatory fee before boarding flights to El Salvador.
The decision to implement this fee comes at a time when the United States grapples with record levels of migration. The US Customs and Border Patrol encountered a staggering 3.2 million migrants across the country in the fiscal year 2023, which ended in September. Many of these migrants embark on perilous journeys from Africa and India, traversing through Central America, with El Salvador often serving as a transit point. The fee is seen as a tactical deterrent, dissuading migrants from choosing El Salvador as a stepping stone to the US.
However, this measure has sparked considerable controversy and criticism. Detractors argue that it unfairly targets travelers from Africa and India, labeling the fee as discriminatory and a violation of international norms and conventions on the freedom of movement. They caution that this could tarnish El Salvador’s reputation and strain its relations with African and Indian countries.
On the other side of the debate, supporters argue that the fee is a necessary measure to address the challenges posed by irregular migration. They contend that the fee will contribute to upgrading El Salvador’s main international airport, which is grappling with increased usage due to migrant influxes. They also assert that the fee is a justified response to the burden that irregular migration imposes on the country’s resources and infrastructure.
The implementation of the fee underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of migration. It highlights the challenges faced by countries like El Salvador, which are often caught in the crosshairs of global migration patterns. It also raises profound questions about the effectiveness and fairness of measures aimed at curtailing migration, and the urgent need for international cooperation to address the root causes of migration.
Migration is often powered by a confluence of economic, social, and political factors, including poverty, conflict, and a dearth of opportunities. Addressing these underlying causes demands a comprehensive and holistic approach that extends beyond mere border control. It calls for investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development, as well as concerted efforts to promote peace, stability, and good governance.
In conclusion, the implementation of the $1,000 fee on travelers from Africa and India by El Salvador is a controversial measure that has sparked heated debate. While supporters deem it a necessary response to the challenges of irregular migration, critics decry it as discriminatory and violative of international norms. The fee raises broader questions about the relationship between migration and development, and the need for a comprehensive approach to address the underlying causes of migration.
With additional reports from Bloomberg, BNN Network
