Nearly half of migrants from Latin America and the Caribbean reported experiencing gun-related violence before arriving in the United States, a new University of Michigan study reveals. The survey, conducted between March 2022 and August 2023, sheds light on the traumatic conditions driving migration and the mental health challenges many face upon arrival.
Of the 321 participants, 48% reported being threatened with a firearm. Men were particularly vulnerable, with a 32% higher likelihood of experiencing such threats compared to women. Most of these incidents occurred in the migrants' home countries (71%), although some reported threats during their journey (16%) or both (13%). Men from Honduras, Venezuela, and El Salvador were among the most affected, with incidents often tied to robberies, extortions, and, in some cases, threats from authorities or intimate partners.
