Blanca Lomeli
Mexico is a transit and destination country for refugees and migrants, especially from Central America, Venezuela, and Cuba. The recent influx of asylum seekers and transit migrants has created challenges for civil society organizations and first-responders.
Thousands of refugees and other forcibly displaced people make their way to Mexico’s northern border from Latin America and beyond to seek asylum in the United States. This increase in migration has been driven by the effects of violence, armed conflict, climate change, and gender-based violence in the region. Migratory policies such as the Migration Protection Protocols (MPP), border closures, expulsions under Title 42 and the CBP One application, are also altering migratory flows at the border.
Refugees, migrants, and internally displaced people living in Mexico’s northern border cities, particularly women, girls, and LGBTQ refugees, face extremely high levels of violence, including kidnapping, human trafficking, and exploitation. Resources are limited, and support organizations are overwhelmed. Throughout the country, displaced people face challenges in accessing essential services, programs, and mechanisms to exercise their rights.
HIAS supports refugees to rebuild their lives and reunite with family members in safety and freedom. HIAS’ response in Mexico helps refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants to obtain legal protection by pursuing their claims for asylum in the U.S. or by applying for legal protection in Mexico.
