In 2024, Mexico saw a 44% decrease in asylum applications, totaling 78,975, despite a record rise in irregular migration levels reaching over 925,000. The long processing times discourage formal applications, prompting migrants to seek quick transit routes to the U.S. amid potential policy changes under President Trump.
In 2024, Mexico witnessed a significant decline in asylum applications, with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) reporting a drop of nearly 44% from the previous year, totaling 78,975 applicants this year compared to 140,720 in 2023. Notably, while Irregular migration surged, demonstrating a historic increase over the past year, the volume of asylum seekers from nations including Haiti, Honduras, and Cuba diminished amid extended processing times.
Despite the decline in requests for asylum, irregular migration surged to unprecedented levels, with more than 925,000 migrants detected from January to August 2024. This figure marks an annual rise of nearly 132%, indicating heightened pressure on Mexico’s southern border, particularly in Tapachula, where two-thirds of the country’s migrant cases are concentrated. Hector Martínez Estrada, a human rights activist, attributed this phenomenon to migrants’ urgency to reach the United States ahead of potential policy changes under the forthcoming administration of President Donald Trump.
Furthermore, Martínez Estrada noted that the lengthy waiting times for asylum processing led many to abandon applications altogether. While the Mexican government’s commitment to support migrants wishing to remain in Mexico remains, it has refused asylum to those solely seeking transit documents to the United States. HUMAN RIGHTS concerns continue to be raised as many migrants remain in precarious situations, waiting for aid from authorities who have yet to improve conditions or responses to their statuses.
The situation of migration in Mexico has become increasingly complex, particularly in light of ongoing political and economic instability in Central American countries and Haiti. Many individuals fleeing these challenges seek safer environments or better opportunities, often leading them towards Mexico as a transit country. The increase in irregular migration reflects broader regional trends where economic distress and violence compel individuals to migrate, frequently without proper documentation or formal applications for asylum. COMAR’s reports provide crucial data on these trends, illustrating the challenges faced by migrants in obtaining legal protections amid heightened enforcement and changing political landscapes.
In summary, while asylum applications in Mexico have markedly decreased in 2024, irregular migration has surged to record levels, underscoring the challenges and complexities migrants face. The prolonged processing times and impending policy changes have prompted many to forgo formal applications in pursuit of quicker paths to the United States. The trends reveal a pressing need for improved systems to manage migrant situations and address human rights concerns effectively.
Original Source: www.haitilibre.com
