Mexico to Provide Humanitarian Assistance and Repatriations for Deported Migrants from the U.S.
President Claudia Sheinbaum announces support for migrants deported by the U.S., as President Trump resumes strict immigration measures.
MEXICO CITY — Mexico will extend humanitarian protection and facilitate the repatriation of migrants deported to its territory by the United States, announced President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday.
This development follows U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed efforts to curb illegal migration.
President Sheinbaum explained that Mexico would repatriate migrants to their countries of origin through established agreements with nations such as Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba, and Venezuela.
She noted plans to expand these agreements to include Colombia and Ecuador by 2024.
The announcement came during Sheinbaum's regular press briefing, where she called for a measured response to President Trump's recent immigration policies.
Mexico's Foreign Minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, would engage with the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to discuss critical issues affecting the bilateral agenda.
President Trump, who recently started a second term, has revoked the policy that allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments at border ports via the CBP One mobile application.
The app, introduced under the Biden administration and supported by Sheinbaum, had reportedly reduced undocumented arrivals significantly.
Official figures show a dramatic drop in migrant encounters at the U.S. southern border from 12,498 in December 2023 to 2,803 by mid-January 2024.
Due to the program's suspension, migrants previously queued for entry are now encouraged by Sheinbaum to return to their country of origin.
In 2024, Mexico repatriated over 16,000 individuals, adding to the 54,728 deportations recorded in the previous year.
The cancellation of the CBP One program and restarted deportations have sparked uncertainty among migrants who had their appointments canceled.
Miguel Licón, a local official in Ciudad Juárez, reported that migrants attempting to reach immigration offices were blocked by U.S. authorities.
Several Mexican border cities, including Ciudad Juárez, Tijuana, and Nuevo Laredo, have set up shelters to accommodate the influx of deportees.
However, officials, such as Reynosa Mayor Carlos Peña, warn of insufficient capacity, labeling the situation potentially critical.
In a related development, President Trump reinstated the "Remain in Mexico" policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).
Under this policy, migrants must wait in Mexico for U.S. asylum decisions.
The policy was last in effect from 2017-2021.
Mexico initially supported the MPP in exchange for the removal of U.S. tariff threats on Mexican exports, an agreement Trump has threatened to reintroduce.
Furthermore, Mexico continues its effort to control migration by deploying military personnel along its extensive border.
In response to potential mass deportations, President Sheinbaum has introduced a new program to aid Mexican nationals, including a mobile app for consular support during immigration raids and provisions for shelters and financial aid.
The program addresses the needs of an estimated six million undocumented Mexicans residing in the U.S. Between January and November 2024, approximately 190,491 Mexican nationals were deported from the U.S.
This development follows U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed efforts to curb illegal migration.
President Sheinbaum explained that Mexico would repatriate migrants to their countries of origin through established agreements with nations such as Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba, and Venezuela.
She noted plans to expand these agreements to include Colombia and Ecuador by 2024.
The announcement came during Sheinbaum's regular press briefing, where she called for a measured response to President Trump's recent immigration policies.
Mexico's Foreign Minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, would engage with the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to discuss critical issues affecting the bilateral agenda.
President Trump, who recently started a second term, has revoked the policy that allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments at border ports via the CBP One mobile application.
The app, introduced under the Biden administration and supported by Sheinbaum, had reportedly reduced undocumented arrivals significantly.
Official figures show a dramatic drop in migrant encounters at the U.S. southern border from 12,498 in December 2023 to 2,803 by mid-January 2024.
Due to the program's suspension, migrants previously queued for entry are now encouraged by Sheinbaum to return to their country of origin.
In 2024, Mexico repatriated over 16,000 individuals, adding to the 54,728 deportations recorded in the previous year.
The cancellation of the CBP One program and restarted deportations have sparked uncertainty among migrants who had their appointments canceled.
Miguel Licón, a local official in Ciudad Juárez, reported that migrants attempting to reach immigration offices were blocked by U.S. authorities.
Several Mexican border cities, including Ciudad Juárez, Tijuana, and Nuevo Laredo, have set up shelters to accommodate the influx of deportees.
However, officials, such as Reynosa Mayor Carlos Peña, warn of insufficient capacity, labeling the situation potentially critical.
In a related development, President Trump reinstated the "Remain in Mexico" policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).
Under this policy, migrants must wait in Mexico for U.S. asylum decisions.
The policy was last in effect from 2017-2021.
Mexico initially supported the MPP in exchange for the removal of U.S. tariff threats on Mexican exports, an agreement Trump has threatened to reintroduce.
Furthermore, Mexico continues its effort to control migration by deploying military personnel along its extensive border.
In response to potential mass deportations, President Sheinbaum has introduced a new program to aid Mexican nationals, including a mobile app for consular support during immigration raids and provisions for shelters and financial aid.
The program addresses the needs of an estimated six million undocumented Mexicans residing in the U.S. Between January and November 2024, approximately 190,491 Mexican nationals were deported from the U.S.
