The Interior Secretariat (Segob) Undersecretary of Population, Migration and Religious Issues Humberto Roque Villanueva recognized that there is a concern over the return of Mexicans who live in the United States and may be deported by the new government, or may return voluntarily because they have low expectations of good treatment once Donald Trump takes office as president.
Roque Villanueva said that he foresees that a part of the two million Mexicans that visit Mexico every winter will remain in Mexico this year because of fears over the campaign promises of Donald Trump, and that the Mexican government must search for ways to support them.
At a meeting with deputies from the Migratory Issues Commission, the undersecretary reiterated that Mexico is logistically prepared to receive the returning migrants. He pointed out that since 2014, around 50,000 Mexicans have returned per year, either voluntarily or by deportation.
“That figure, because we depend on U.S. data, is very complicated, and the statistic is from 2014,” he said. “There are 50,000 between voluntary and involuntary returns.”
He said that if U.S. deportation policy becomes harsher, Mexico will work so that deportees return in an orderly fashion and that their rights be respected. The government is already working to secure temporary shelters, 90-day medical insurance, food and even help finding work.
“Basically, it has to do with preparing shelters, which, the Haitian experience has showed us are very important,” he said. “We have been able to set up new shelters and they are functioning adequately. Migration processes that the National Migration Institute (INM) offers to deportees are also completely in order, but we are not making predictions, we are going to wait and see what happens.”
Ardelio Vargas, head of the INM, called for calm about Trump’s campaign promises. He said that the deportations will take place in an orderly fashion, through 11 points and with regulated schedules.
He said that almost three million Mexicans have visited Mexico in 2016 that he expects two million to visit during the holiday seasons. The “Welcome, Countryman” Program offers orientation and support to the migrants, some of whom will stay in Mexico.
Vargas explained that the program looks for safe travel routes and supports returning Mexicans at ports of entry.
