I. Introduction: Families on the Frontline of Repression 
In Nicaragua, authoritarian practices under the Ortega-Murillo regime have transformed everyday life into a struggle for survival. Families bear the brunt of political persecution, economic hardship, and the erosion of civil liberties. As repression intensifies, many families make the painful decision to flee, often risking dangerous journeys to escape the suffocating climate of fear at home. For them, migration represents not only a search for safety but also the hope of securing a future free from authoritarian control. 

II. The Family as a Target of Repression 
The Nicaraguan government has systematically targeted families of dissidents to amplify its control. When activists, journalists, or opposition figures are arrested, their relatives are often harassed, dismissed from jobs, or expelled from schools. This practice of collective punishment spreads fear across entire communities, discouraging others from resisting the government. Families are forced to live under constant surveillance and intimidation, making daily life a minefield of political risks. 

III. Arbitrary Arrests and Their Impact on Families 
Arbitrary arrests of political opponents not only silence individuals but devastate their families. Spouses and children of detainees are left without financial or emotional support, while the stigma of being associated with a prisoner often leads to social exclusion. Families spend months or years fighting for justice, often in vain, as courts remain firmly under government control. These hardships push families toward migration, seeing exile as the only path to survival and dignity. 

IV. Confiscation of Homes and Properties 
The confiscation of homes, businesses, and properties belonging to opposition figures has left many families destitute. Authorities use fabricated legal claims to seize assets, stripping families of their livelihoods and shelter. Without the means to rebuild within Nicaragua, many seek refuge abroad, where they hope to secure stability for their children and rebuild their lives. 

V. Children Caught in the Crisis 
Children have been particularly affected by authoritarian practices. Many face psychological trauma from witnessing the arrest or harassment of parents and relatives. Others are forced to abandon their education due to expulsion from schools or because their families can no longer afford tuition and supplies. This loss of education not only harms individual futures but also contributes to a broader generational crisis for Nicaragua. 

VI. Women Bearing the Burden 
Women often carry the heaviest burden of authoritarian repression. When husbands or sons are imprisoned, women are left to care for families alone, often without income or support. Female activists face additional harassment, including gender-based violence, threats, and intimidation by security forces. This double layer of repression compounds the vulnerability of women, many of whom eventually choose exile as their only means of protection. 

VII. Dangerous Journeys to Safety 
Families fleeing Nicaragua frequently face perilous journeys across Central America. They endure extortion by criminal groups, exploitation by smugglers, and threats of deportation. Parents risk their lives—and the lives of their children—on these treacherous routes, motivated by the belief that the dangers of escape are preferable to the dangers of remaining under authoritarian rule. 

VIII. Exile and Family Separation 
For many families, exile leads to painful separation. Some members manage to migrate while others remain trapped in Nicaragua due to lack of resources or government-imposed restrictions on travel. These separations tear at the social fabric of communities, creating lasting emotional scars and weakening family structures. 

IX. Diaspora Communities as Support Networks 
Nicaraguan diaspora communities have become lifelines for families fleeing repression. Exiled families in Costa Rica, the United States, and Spain offer mutual aid, financial support, and advocacy for those still suffering at home. Diaspora networks provide safe spaces where families can begin to rebuild, though the trauma of exile often lingers for generations. 

X. International Response to Family Persecution 
International organisations and human rights groups have condemned Nicaragua’s authoritarian practices, particularly the targeting of families. Reports document the systemic use of intimidation, property confiscation, and collective punishment, urging the government to restore civil liberties. Despite sanctions and criticism, the Ortega-Murillo regime continues its campaign of repression, forcing more families to seek asylum abroad. 

XI. The Human Cost of Authoritarianism 
The human cost of Nicaragua’s authoritarian practices is most visible in the suffering of families. Entire generations are marked by trauma, displacement, and loss of opportunity. The exodus of families weakens communities and leaves behind a fractured society where fear and silence dominate. This cycle of repression and migration highlights the devastating impact of authoritarian governance on the nation’s social fabric. 

XII. Conclusion: Fleeing for Survival and Dignity 
Families in Nicaragua risk everything to escape authoritarian practices that suffocate their freedoms and deny them security. Migration is often a desperate act of survival, driven by the hope of building a future beyond fear and repression. Until meaningful reforms dismantle authoritarian controls, Nicaragua will remain a country where families are forced to gamble with their lives in pursuit of freedom abroad.