Mexico to Review Its Migrant Strategy

President López Obrador said the government will discuss with US representatives ways to reinforce measures to contain migrant waves as the country registered record numbers of migrants seeking to reach the United States in 2023. 

While the United States is the destination of most migrants coming from Venezuela, Honduras, Haiti, and Cuba, among others, Mexico is also experiencing the effects of the migrant crisis, reporting record arrival figures. According to the National Immigration Institute (INM), there are over 686,732 people with an irregular migratory status, which is the highest figure registered over the past decade.  

The Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) reported that over 136,934 people asked for refugee status between January and November 2023, which is also the largest figure registered. Moreover, migration authorities detained over 2.4 million people in 2023 in the Mexico-US border, which is also the largest figure ever registered, as reported by Expansión. 

Within this context, US President Joe Biden held a call with López Obrador to discuss the migrant crisis, among other topics. During the call, López Obrador agreed that ongoing efforts must be enforced as the increasing migrant flows have negatively affected goods transportation between both countries. “This has limited the normal operation of bridges and the crossings through customs. And we will help, as we always do. We are seeking agreements,” said López Obrador during its Dec. 22, 2023 morning press conference. 

After a call with the US government, both presidents have agreed to convene a meeting involving US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, with President López Obrador. The meeting is scheduled for Dec. 27, 2023, at Palacio Nacional. During the meeting, officials will discuss actions to address the migrant crisis, as announced in a White House press release.

As the crisis continues to grow, both governments need to address it, as this humanitarian crisis could have harmful repercussions for migrant populations, as they are susceptible to several dangers and violations of their Human Rights along their way to the US border. 

The rising waves of migrants pose a potential threat to Mexico's supply chains, as well. COPARMEX highlighted the significant disruptions caused by the migration crisis, particularly affecting companies engaged in export and import activities in states like Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. COPARMEX outlined that the Bridge of the Americas crossing currently has 1,500 cargo trucks stranded due to these challenges. 

Similarly, on Sept. 20, 2023, MBN reported that Grupo Mexico’s subsidiary Ferromex halted operations of 60 of its freight trains to ensure the safety of migrants who planned to board the trains to get to the US border. The company reported that over 1,500 migrants were found in its operation yards in Torreon, Coahuila; over 800 in Irapuato, Guanajuato; 1,000 in San Francisco de los Romo, Aguascalientes; and more than 1,000 within the route that goes from Chihuahua to Ciudad Juarez. The company said that in the past, several migrants were injured when trying to board the units.