The Mexican government takes President-elect Donald Trump’s threats of mass deportations very seriously.
It is announcing preventive measures ahead of Mr. Trump’s return to the White House in less than a month.
In Baja California, under the leadership of Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, the local government has unveiled an ambitious project to establish 25 reception centers across the state to house migrants deported from US territory.
These reception structures will enable Mexican authorities to ensure a dignified reception for nationals who will be repatriated under the future Trump administration, due to take office on January 20.
At a press conference in Tijuana, Governor Ávila Olmeda stressed the urgency of the initiative, referring to Trump’s election pledges to toughen migration policy. “We take these statements very seriously and are preparing to welcome our repatriated compatriots,” she said.
Recently, Donald Trump had declared that he had reached an agreement with the Mexican president regarding the reception of deported migrants. Claudia Sheinbaum promptly disputed the MAGA leader’s claims. She clarified that no agreement had been signed, while stressing that Mexico would assume its responsibilities towards its citizens expelled from the United States.
The plan includes the installation of five centers in Tijuana and two in Mexicali, exclusively for Mexican citizens returning from the United States.
These facilities will be able to temporarily house up to 500 people each, before they are transferred to their hometowns in Mexico. “This initiative guarantees respectful treatment of our compatriots and the protection of their fundamental rights”, stressed Ms Ávila Olmeda, as reported by Salvador Rivera of DC News Now.
For foreign nationals considering Mexico as a refuge in the event of deportation from the United States, the governor made it clear that the shelters are exclusively reserved for Mexican citizens. Non-Mexican migrants will be returned directly to their countries of origin, in accordance with established procedures.
The facilities have been designed to accommodate different categories of people, with spaces dedicated to single men, single women, unaccompanied minors and families.
This structured strategy aims to guarantee a safe and well-organized reception for people facing uncertainty after their expulsion. Governor Ávila Olmeda’s initiative demonstrates Mexico’s commitment to responding proactively to the challenges posed by the evolution of U.S. migration policies. As the opening of the new shelters approaches, the authorities are emphasizing the importance of solidarity and collective understanding to support those affected by these deportation measures.
The Haitian community represents a significant presence in Mexico.
Although part of this community sees Mexico as its final destination, the majority sees this country as a transitory stage on the way to the United States.
Traditionally, before embarking on their journey to the “Canaan of America”, many Haitians sought to obtain a temporary residence permit for Mexico, commonly known as a protocole.
This document theoretically allowed them to return to Mexico in the event of expulsion from the United States. This strategy, viable under the Biden administration, could prove ineffective under a second Trump term, as Mexican authorities have already expressed their refusal to accept foreign nationals as part of the next far-right US president’s mass deportation program.
For further information on this and other border news, see the Border Report website and Salvador Rivera’s article via this link.