Mexico City, Mexico, January 22, 2024 — Following recent reports of increasing numbers of asylum seekers transiting through Mexican territory and the rescue of over 700 from a warehouse, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned that the humanitarian crisis related to mixed migration and internal displacement is exposing an ever-growing population to multiple threats.
Rafael Velásquez, Country Director for Mexico at the IRC said:
“There is no doubt that Mexico is the last mile for thousands of people who left their homes in search of safety, whether they are trying to find it here or in the US. What is also true is that the organizations providing protection and asylum services have been operating beyond capacity for years.
“Displaced individuals not only encounter limited alternatives to cover their needs and access basic services but are exposed to several risks. In a recent report in which the IRC collaborated, we identified that more than half of those on the move had experienced incidents of violence such as kidnapping, robbery, extortion, or human trafficking. As crises escalate worldwide, we can only expect to see more and more people in need of protection arriving in the country. We call on the international community to step up their support and funding to strengthen the humanitarian responses in Mexico.”
In the Protection Needs Overview, developed by the Technical Group of the Protection Working Group in Mexico and in which the IRC participates, among the main risks identified were:
- Violence and insecurity, especially related to activities of armed groups. Additionally, gender-based violence was mentioned as a relevant danger, perceived by 30% of participants in the Protection Monitoring carried out by the Danish Refugee Council, mentioned in the report.
- Limited access to basic services and rights, such as health and education, persists despite being supported by Mexican law. The lack of access to services like these becomes a protection risk when legitimate rights are restricted by discrimination, stigma or insecurity.
- Misinformation or information that is inaccessible. Of the existing information on aspects such as services and rights, most is only available in Spanish, which represents an obstacle for asylum seekers who do not speak the language, including Haitians, who have become the main nationality applying for asylum.
Download the full report.
Notes to editors:
- The Protection Needs Overview (PNO) was prepared by the Technical Group of the Protection Working Group (PWG) in Mexico.
- The analysis of protection risks contained in this PNO is based on qualitative and quantitative data identified in various primary and secondary sources, product of the work of various organizations, institutions, and agencies over many years.
- The Technical Group was led by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), in their role as co-leaders of the PWG together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with the active participation of Programa Casa Refugiados (PCR), the Institute for Women in Migration (IMUMI) and HIAS.