According to Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena, in addition to handling visa processing issues, the migrant centre will provide information about jobs in the US, and establish safe and legal migration pathways to the US for those who are eligible for a visa.
The Mexican official said that Mexico was looking to establish an “international space” in southern Mexico where people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela could seek humanitarian protection and employment assistance, after COVID-19 pandemic-era border restriction at the southern US border expired in May.
Mexican and US officials are still discussing the US’s new refugee policy for this group of people. This is part of an effort by US President Joe Biden to create more immigration opportunities for citizens from Central America and the Caribbean.
In April 2023, the US, Colombia, and Panama also announced a joint campaign to halt illegal migration, which emphasised their determination to reduce poverty and create jobs for communities in Colombia and Panama.
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Recently arrived migrants to New York City wait on the sidewalk outside the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown, Manhattan, where a temporary reception center has been established in New York City, on August 1, 2023. (Photo: Reuters) |
In fact, the number of illegal migrants to the US decreased in May after the Biden administration rolled out new asylum regulations; however, there are still tens of thousands of people waiting in Mexico for an opportunity to go to the US.
In order to contribute to reducing the flow of illegal immigrants to the US through dangerous routes, the US Government recently opened four offices in Guatemala to receive and process immigration applications to the US. For consideration, eligible applicants must meet some basic criteria such as being 18 years old or above, and having an email address, phone number, detailed background and migration plan.
As one of the countries with the most influence on Central America, over the past years, Mexico has made efforts to help countries in the region develop their economies, with the aim of reducing the number of US-bound migrants. Mexico has launched a programme to offer Central Americans temporary visas to work on public infrastructure projects.
It is not difficult to explain the determination of the US and Mexican authorities to control the wave of illegal migration more effectively, since the migration is seriously threatening security and stability, and posing great pressure on the social security systems of these two countries.
New York City has received more than 90,000 migrants and asylum-seekers since the spring of 2022. Recently, the city decided to impose 60-day shelter stay limit for adult migrants, and distributed flyers telling migrants at the US-Mexico border to 'consider another city'.
Meanwhile in Mexico, authorities repeatedly discovered cases of hundreds of illegal migrants crammed inside trucks. Crime related to human trafficking is increasing in Mexico, causing serious insecurity.
The Darien Gap mountainous jungle, one of the main corridors for South American illegal migrants heading to the US, has also seen a significant increase in the number of migrants compared to the same period in 2022.
It requires a lot of time and effort to get to the root of this pressing issue. That countries in the region have closely coordinated to create legal, orderly, and flexible migration routes, gradually reducing illegal migration, is a welcome move. Migration is a challenge at the regional level and can only be solved by the joint efforts of all countries in the region.
