Migration: Central American Corridor Not Always Used to Reach the U.S

For these 2 somali men, the United States was not their final destination. It was a transit country to reach Canada. Yet, before setting foot on Canadian soil, these two men - who fled violence at home - traveled for 400 days and crossed 15 borders on 3 continents. After reading this story, there are a few points worth highlighting:

• As of lately, the U.S. has become a transit country for migrants - fleeing poverty, political unrest, natural disaster or violence - interested in reaching Canada. Although, it is difficult to estimate how many migrants have used the U.S. as a transit country, the number is believed to be quiet low. Additionally, as it's has become increasingly difficulty to cross the U.S.-Mexican border, a growing number of Latin American migrants are settling down in Mexico, regularly or irregularly. So unlike what many tend to believe, not every single migrant is dreaming of a future in the United States.
• The Central American route has been a traditional route for South/Central Americans, Cubans, and Haitians trying to reach the U.S. However, over the last few years, migrants from Africa, South East Asia, even from the Middle East have also been using that route to reach the U.S. or Canada. [See joint study the UN Migration Agency, IOM, and the OAS]
• For migrants from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, the Central American route takes them through an extremely long and costly journey, yet it is believed to be a safer than crossing the Mediterranean sea. However, a better collection of data of migrants dying or missing along the Central American corridor would certainly provide a better assessment of the dangerousness of the route compared to others. [See IOM's Missing Migrant Project]
• Migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East usually fly to Brazil or Ecuador, countries where it is easier for them to get a visa. From there, they usually travel by foot until their reach their final destination. Before they could reach their final destination, they would spend days walking, sleeping in the most unsafe places, and many will be also robbed and abused. 
• Migration is a global phenomenon, not a local or regional one. Additionally, migrants have the capacity to rapidly adapt to new challenges/hurdles and find out new routes. Thus, countries cannot keep responding to migratory flows in "panic mode" but should instead view them as inevitable movements that can be managed by adopting a long-term vision from which they would benefit.