Asylum applications in Mexico decreased by 44% in 2024, yet irregular migration surged to historic levels, detecting over 925,000 cases from January to August. The Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) reported that less than half of all applications were processed, with a majority approved despite ongoing border saturation, particularly in Tapachula. Activists indicated this decrease in applications results from long wait times and urgency to migrate before potential policy changes under future leadership.
In 2024, asylum applications in Mexico saw a notable decline, with 78,975 individuals applying, marking a decrease of approximately 44% from the previous year’s figure of 140,720, as reported by the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). Despite this decrease in applications, irregular migration reached unprecedented levels, with over 925,000 individuals detected from January to August 2024—a staggering 132% increase compared to any other year.
The main source countries for migration included Honduras, Cuba, and Haiti, with Haiti contributing 10,853 migrants. COMAR processed less than half of the asylum applications, approving 74% of the 33,844 analyzed. Additionally, areas like Tapachula, a central hub for migrants at Mexico’s southern border, continued to see high concentrations of individuals seeking passage, with nearly two-thirds of the country’s migrant cases reported there.
Hector Martínez Estrada, a noted human rights activist, indicated that the decline in asylum requests does not reflect a reduction in migration itself, but rather reflects the long waiting times for responses from COMAR and the urgency many migrants feel to reach the United States before the implementation of potentially restrictive policies by future leadership.
Despite declining applications, the lack of efficient responses from authorities has left many migrants in a prolonged state of uncertainty regarding their futures. Although the Mexican government pledged assistance to those wishing to remain in Mexico, it refrained from granting asylum to individuals only seeking documents for U.S. travel.
The issue of irregular migration in Mexico has been compounded by various socio-economic factors in Central America and the Caribbean. A significant number of migrants seek refuge from violent political conditions, economic hardship, and environmental crises in their home countries. Consequently, Mexico has become a critical transit point for many seeking to migrate to the United States. The complexities of asylum processing and bureaucratic delays have created additional challenges for migrants, leading to an unprecedented rise in irregular crossings as individuals seek quicker and more flexible routes to the U.S.
In summary, while Mexico has experienced a significant drop in asylum applications in 2024, irregular migration has surged, indicating a troubling contradiction in the migration landscape. Furthermore, inefficiencies in handling asylum claims continue to fuel the drive toward irregular migration as individuals prioritize urgency in their journeys. Effective interventions and policy reforms are essential to address these trends and provide better support for migrants.
Original Source: www.haitilibre.com
