From January to November 2021, Mexican authorities detained 252,256 migrants, an increase of 206% compared to 2020, according to statistics released by the Mexican Secretary of Interior.
These numbers represent the highest number of immigrants detained in Mexico since 2001, when Mexican authorities began keeping track of migrants in detention.
In 2019, 182,940 cases of detention were recorded, compared to 131, 445 in 2018 and 93,846 in 2017, reported the American newspaper The Hill.
These migrants come from various countries in the region. Haitians came first, followed by Honduras, and Venezuela.
During the same period, 42,855 humanitarian visas were granted to immigrants, half of which were granted to nationals of the above-mentioned countries, reported the American newspaper The Hill, which insisted that Mexico has become the favorite destination for Haitian, Venezuelan, Cuban, and Ecuadorian migrants in 2021.
“Over the past five years, a majority of migrants detained in Mexico have come from the so-called Northern Triangle countries – Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras – with notable increases in Haitian, Venezuelan, Cuban and Ecuadorian migration in 2021,” recalled the American newspaper known for its independence.
The newspaper also insisted on the fact that a considerable decrease has been registered in the cases of deportations of immigrants detained in Mexico.
In the first months of 2021, 40% of the 101,571 immigrants detained were returned to their country of origin. Last year, 73% were sent back compared to 82% in 2019, and 88% in 2018 and 2017.
It is important to note that immigration has become one of the most important sources of revenue for Mexico. Before reaching the U.S. border, some immigrants had to spend several months in Mexico, spending thousands of dollars in the country presided by Manuel Lopez Obrador.
The increase in immigration detentions in Mexico is the result of the “stay in Mexico” policy adopted by former President Donald Trump in 2017 and which his successor was forced to reinstate after several court decisions.
Haitians want to leave Haiti at all costs due to the security situation and precarious socio-economic conditions among other reasons.
Last September, over 15,000 Haitian migrants took refuge under the Del Rio Bridge in Texas. More than two-thirds of them were turned back to Haiti by the Joe Biden administration on the grounds that the security situation in Haiti is stable.