Mexico’s plan to receive thousands of its citizens deported from the United States is no less than an ambitious plan. Planning to build nine reception centers along the border – huge tents installed in parking lots, stadiums and warehouses – with mobile kitchens run by the armed forces.
The details of the initiative – called “Mexico embrace you” – have not been revealed only this week, although Mexican officials have said they were inventing them over the past few months, since Donald Trump has pledged to perform the largest expulsion of illegal immigrants in the United States. date.
It is expected that almost every branch of the government – 34 federal agencies and 16 state government – in one way or another: transfer people to buses to their hometown, organizing logistics services, providing medical care, and recording newly returns in social welfare programs such as pension and paid vocational training Wage. In addition to distributing cash cards worth about $ 100 each.
Officials say they are also negotiating agreements with Mexican companies to link people to jobs.
“We are ready to receive you on this aspect of the border,” Mexican Interior Minister Rosa Issela Rodriguez said at a press conference this week. “Return to the homeland is an opportunity to return to the homeland and do not reunite the family.”
Mexican president Claudia Xinbom described the extensive expected deportations as a “unilateral step” and said she was not agreeing with her. But as the country that includes the largest number of unauthorized citizens who live in the United States – and It is estimated at four million people As of 2022 – Mexico found itself obligated to prepare.
The government’s plan focuses on the deported Mexicans from the United States, although the president indicated that the country can temporarily receive foreign departments as well.
Mexico is not alone in preparation: Guatemala recently, its southern neighbor, which also includes a large number of unregistered population in the United States, has recently established. A plan to accommodate its deportees was presented.
While the Mexican Foreign Minister spoke by phone with the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week on immigration and security issues, Mexico and other countries in the region said it was It was not reviewed by the Trump administration Regarding deportation plans, which let them scramble in the absence of any details.
“The return of Donald Trump again makes Mexico not ready to confront these scenarios,” said Sergio Luna, who works with the Immigrant Defense Organization Network, a Mexican alliance with 23 refugees, migrant homes and organization spread throughout the country.
“We cannot continue to respond to emergency situations with programs that may have good intentions, but they are completely short.” “What this shows is that Mexico has benefited for decades of Mexican immigrants through financial transfers, but it made these population in forgetfulness.”
Moreover, while the government has a fleet of 100 buses to return the deportees to their original states, many of them fled those places to escape violence and the lack of opportunities in the first place.
Other experts asked whether the Mexican government was really ready to deal with the long -term shock that might be caused by domestic deportations and secession.
“These people will return and their return will have an impact on their mental health,” said Camellia Tigo, a researcher in immigration affairs at the Independent National University in Mexico.
Even with the presence of new facilities, the current shelters – often small and suffer from a lack of financing – may face severe pressure to serve large numbers of people who recently arrived alongside the usual population of migrants from the south who hope to cross the American border, although The shelters operators said the number of immigrants Decrease In recent months.
“We cannot prepare because we do not have financial resources,” said Gabriella Hernandez, director of the Casa Toshan Casa City shelter, adding that her team often depends on donations from ordinary citizens. “So we consider this an emergency. It is like the earthquake.”
Other shelters in Mexico City said they had not received additional support from the government.
It is likely that the capital, Mexico City, will eventually receive many returnees. Studies indicate that when people are deported, they often do not settle in their hometown, however Moving to major cities.
“It is good for the Mexican government to plan to receive the initial reception,” said Claudia Masferre, an immigration researcher who studied the dynamics of returning from the United States to Mexico and its repercussions. “It is important to think about what will happen next, in the following months,” she added.
In an interview, Timstocklis Villanueva, head of the Human Mobility Department at Mexico City, said in an interview that officials intend to create new shelters and increase the capital’s ability to accommodate immigrants and the departments to approximately three times – to more than 3000 of about 1300.
Those who work with immigrants and wagers also feel anxious that Mexico and other countries in the region are obstructed in their efforts to receive large numbers of people if the Trump administration decides Stopping the disbursement of external aidMr. Rubio also said on Tuesday that he started doing this, after an executive order signed by Mr. Trump on Monday.
“This may be translated into a crisis, or at least a temporary weakening of these humanitarian aid support networks,” said Mr. Luna.
The United States is The largest financier For example, affiliated with the United Nations International Migration Organization, which currently provides many services provided to immigrants and deportees, starting with groups of health supplies that people receive when they get from deportations.
The organization, which cooperates with the Mexican government in the “Mexico embracing you” plan, refused to comment.
In a telegram sent Speaking to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, Mr. Rubio specifically stated immigration regarding foreign aid. In the past, this aid was also going to programs aimed at alleviating hunger, disease and suffering in wartime.
“Collective migration is the most important issue of our time” and that the ministry will no longer take measures that would “facilitate or encourage it.”
He added that diplomacy, especially in the Western hemisphere, will “give priority to securing America’s borders.”
Mrs. Shinbaum has Indicate Mexico can receive non -Mexican deportees. However, she said that Her government planned to return “voluntary”. Any non -Mexican citizens – including those who are waiting for asylum sessions in the United States – to their countries of origin.
She said that the issue of who would pay for their return was included in the list of topics that she planned to discuss with US government officials.
