An Escalating Phenomenon with Thousands at Risk: Why Are Mauritanian Youth Risking Immigration to the U.S.?

Experts and policymakers in Mauritania are sounding the alarm about the escalating phenomenon of irregular migration, as increasing numbers of educated and skilled Mauritanian youth risk their lives in an attempt to reach the United States via the U.S.–Mexico border.

Recent media reports have highlighted a surge in Mauritanian youth’s interest in irregular migration to the United States, primarily from South American countries. Social media accounts have been actively promoting a new migration route from Mauritania to the United States, luring young Mauritanians with dreams of a better life in America.

This migration path typically involves flights from Mauritania to countries such as Turkiye, Colombia, and El Salvador, ultimately leading to Managua, Nicaragua. From there, migrants, along with asylum seekers from other countries, are transported by bus to the U.S. border with the support of smugglers.

 

Multiple Complex Factors

While there are no official statistics regarding the number of young Mauritanians who have undertaken irregular migration to the United States in the past two years, estimates suggest that their numbers reach into the tens of thousands.

According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, over 8,500 Mauritanians arrived in the United States irregularly via the land border between March and June 2023. This number is significant for a country with a population of just over 4 million, raising concerns about addressing the root causes of this growing phenomenon to prevent negative impacts on the national economy and development.

The motivations behind young Mauritanians risking their lives for irregular migration to the United States are multifaceted. One of the primary drivers is rampant unemployment among young people.

According to Mohammed el-Mokhtar Ould Mohammed Fall, the publisher of the local newspaper Anahar, a significant percentage of Mauritanian youth do not continue their studies after reaching high school level. Only around 16% of students continue their education beyond high school, while the majority enter the job market.

On the other hand, even those who attain higher education degrees, including doctors, often face unemployment.

Unemployment rates in Mauritania are alarmingly high, exceeding 31%, which means that nearly one-third of the population lacks a source of income.

Ould Mohammed Fall emphasizes that the main reason behind widespread unemployment is the short-sighted and improvised policies of successive political regimes.

These regimes tend to ignore the objective realities and instead apply localized, short-term solutions, leaving behind a legacy of mistakes, tragedies, and challenges for the next regime to inherit.

 

Push Factors

He stressed that these improvisational policies, rampant corruption, and the failure of successive governments to adopt a genuine policy that goes beyond empty slogans have all contributed to the high unemployment rate. Consequently, this has pushed young people to take the risks associated with irregular migration.

Ould Mohammed Fall also pointed out that the social aspect of youth plays a significant role in driving irregular migration. Most of these young migrants come from tribal and Bedouin backgrounds originally.

He added that many of them shy away from jobs in various manual and technical fields such as mechanics, electrical work, welding, and construction.

This reluctance has created a gap in the labor market, attracting a vast influx of laborers from across Africa, further exacerbating youth unemployment.

Additionally, there is a phenomenon of contagion where many young people who were previously engaged in independent and skilled trades chose to migrate due to low wages or limited profits, seeking better income opportunities abroad.

In conclusion, the phenomenon of irregular migration to the United States involves a complex interplay of psychological, social, economic, and political factors. It requires in-depth analysis and a comprehensive explanation that addresses all these dimensions.

Despite the multifaceted reasons and motivations for embarking on the journey to the “American dream,” the growing numbers of irregular migrant youth raise several potential risks, both for the migrants themselves and for the country as a whole.

The former minister and lecturer at the University of Nouakchott, Khattar Ould Cheibani, believes that the increasing rate of youth migration has become a challenging and pervasive social phenomenon despite the efforts made by the state to curb it.

In an opinion article published on July 18, 2023, by the local website Aqlame Houra, Ould Cheibani emphasized that the escalation of the phenomenon of crossing the Mexican border towards the United States as an escape from the homeland, which should be a haven and a sanctuary, represents a “real hemorrhage” for the country’s economy and its future development.

He added that the departure of many young people from the country in search of job opportunities and a better life abroad leads to the loss of the necessary human resources for the country’s development.

Irregular migration leads to the emergence of a large number of undocumented migrants, paving the way to security and social problems, in addition to stifling economic growth and deteriorating living conditions.

On the other hand, the university professor and academic researcher Hamahouallah Wuld al-Salim stated, “We are a migrating people, and migration is not a disgrace.” He asked, “But what drove these people to migrate?”

In a political seminar held on the topic of “the phenomenon of migration to America,” attended by deputies, university professors, journalists, and human rights activists, Wuld al-Salim answered, “The answer is the American dream.”

 

What’s the Solution?

On September 9, 2023, Wuld al-Salim stated, “The push factors do not exist, thank God, such as civil wars, for example, or blatant dictatorship.” He continued, “However, unemployment is a real and cumulative push factor.

“The element of conspiracy is present because some parties have an interest in draining the country of its elite, and I fear that this migration may not be very noble or honorable.”

He concluded by saying, “We are no longer in the stage of being annoyed by migration. It has become a nightmare and a disturbing thing that threatens social peace, the state, and the common good.”

The conclusion drawn is that “youth migration from adolescence to the age of 30 is a serious issue and can lead to the collapse of the state, frankly.”

He further added that if this phenomenon continues at such an accelerated pace for a year or two, “Mauritania will either collapse or be on the brink of collapse, at the very least.”

Given that irregular migration has become a pressing reality in Mauritania, the question that arises is: What is required to curb the growth of irregular migration towards the United States?

Anahar’s Mohammed el-Mokhtar Ould Mohammed Fall affirmed that what is needed is for government policies to become genuinely scientific in addressing the problem rather than policies formulated without regard for the reality and the youth affected by the issue.

He attributed the increasing irregular migration to all successive regimes, noting that they “left the problem unaddressed, leading to rising unemployment rates despite the slogans raised by each regime, but the result has consistently been zero.”

Ould Mohammed Fall believes that changing mindsets is also necessary, with youth pursuing careers according to their educational levels. He added that young people who do not possess a high level of education should consider vocational work, especially given the abundance of vocational training schools, and engage in fields where workers can earn good incomes.

He continued that when the state encourages youth through campaigns like these, “mindsets can change, and many young people may turn to these manual and technical professions that they once shunned, which are often occupied by foreigners.”

With the increasing intensity of irregular youth migration in Mauritania, observers believe that the state’s efforts to curb this phenomenon will not yield results unless they are part of a comprehensive strategy to address youth issues.

Key aspects of this strategy should include tackling unemployment by combating corruption, promoting transparency in appointments and public contracts, and expanding vocational and technical education programs that align with the needs of the job market.