Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Migration in Mexico- statistics & facts
Mexico is widely known for the high number of emigrants that every year exit the country to find work, start a new life, or escape the conditions they use to live in. Nonetheless, the Aztec country is also one of the most transited countries to reach other destinations. In recent years, the number of migrants from Central America and the Caribbean that traveled through the national territory to reach the United States of America has increased, either as single units or the recently popular migrant caravans. Accounting for this and the strict migratory policies of the U.S., the number of migrants that are waiting for a resolution or have been rejected at the border and then decide to stay in Mexico is quite high. In fact, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador are the three leading countries of origin for incoming migrants in Mexico.
The crumbling relationship between Mexico and the U.S.
The migratory balance between both nations heavily favors the number of Mexicans in the United States. Mexico also tops the list of aliens apprehended at the U.S. border and represents around 25 percent of all migrants living in the northern country. With approximately 37 million people with Mexican origin in the U.S., migration is not always an easy subject in public opinion, and is always a political topic, even becoming one of the main slogans of former American president Donald Trump. Between 2019 and 2020, Trump's government built around 737 kilometers of a new fence separating both nations to reduce the number of migrants crossing irregularly.Irregular migration
The number of irregular migrants coming to Mexico has grown exponentially in the past years. In 2023, the figure was over 782,000 cases, nine times higher than in 2020. The difficult scenarios in some Latin American countries have forced their inhabitants to find other places to live with better opportunities. Even though staying in Mexico is not the objective of many migrants within the national borders, the recent cooperation between the Mexican and U.S. governments has implemented new policies and reinforced security on the southern border to avoid the transit of people. In fact, Chiapas, Veracruz, and Tabasco are the among the states with the highest number of irregular migration cases recorded. Moreover, some countries like Venezuela show a recent increase in the number of emigrants, and in 2023, they represented over 28 percent of the irregular migration cases registered in Mexico.Refugees and asylum seekers
From 2020 to 2023, the number of refugees in Mexico grew 174 percent, reaching over 124,000 cases. This follows a constant increase in numbers since 2012, which relates to the increasing political and socio-economic problems in some Latin American and Caribbean countries. During 2023, the main countries of origin of refugees were Honduras, El Salvador, and Venezuela. The situation of refugees in Aztec territory is a problematic one, the COMAR and the Mexican government have failed to ensure the protection and integration of refugees and asylum seekers. Also, many refugees are detained in migrant camps or provisional stations that are not well equipped. As a well-known example, during late March 2023, the migratory station located in Ciudad Juárez burned down taking the life of 39 migrants and sending 28 more to the hospital.
