During the 2021 fiscal year, more than 1.7 million undocumented migrants were detected at the border with Mexico, according to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

More than 115,000 migrants have been detained in Mexico so far in 2022

photo_camera AFP/ISAAC GUZMAN - Migrants cross Suchiate River on a raft from Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico

According to data from Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM), so far in 2022, 115,379 migrants have been identified and detained, among whom 15% were minors, mainly from Central America.

"The INM of the Interior Ministry rescued 115,379 foreign migrants during their entry and transit through Mexican territory between 1 January and 13 April," the INM statement said.

The report includes data on the migrants identified, distributed according to their country of origin. Honduras was the most repeated nation, with 21,965 migrants, followed by Guatemala and Cuba with 21,954 and 15,907, respectively. Also noteworthy is the case of Nicaragua with 8,270 migrants and El Salvador with 6,931; while 40,352 people come from different nationalities, including 6,188 migrants from Asia and Europe. 

migrantes-honduras

The figure is worrying in terms of minors, 17,649 migrants, of whom 14,105 were accompanied by an adult, while 3,544 travelled alone, according to the INM. 

Migratory flow 

The National Migration Institute stated that the state of Chiapas was the place where the largest number of migrants had been located, with 25,768 migrants, followed by Mexico City (13,213), Baja California (11,507), Tabasco (10,099) and Veracruz (7,794).

This reality has generated situations such as the caravan made up of 700 people of various nationalities, christened "Viacrucis", who walked towards Mexico City to complain about the lack of resolutions to their asylum applications. This group reached an agreement with the INM authorities in Chiapas to obtain "humanitarian visas".

Since last October 2018, thousands of migrants from Central America, Haiti and Cuba entered Mexico illegally with the aim of reaching the United States, forcing the reinforcement of Mexican border crossings. 

caravana-migrantes

The record number of apprehensions, called "rescues" by the INM, are a small reflection of the record flow of migrants in the region. According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), more than 1.7 million undocumented migrants were intercepted at the Mexican border between January and September 2021.

Last year, 114,000 foreigners were deported from Mexico, while 131,448 migrants requested asylum from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar), of which more than 51,000 are of Haitian origin. 

Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra.  

 

 

 

 

 

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