“Building walls or deploying military forces at borders is not a viable solution,” says Lopez Obrador
According to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Mexican government is actively providing assistance and protection to migrants in transit. These individuals receive essential services such as medical care, food, and shelter from the Mexican government, stated the Mexican president in his morning conference on September 21.
Additionally, the government’s migration strategy includes offering employment opportunities in key projects like the Tren Maya, although many migrants still choose to continue their journey to the United States.
To address the ongoing challenges related to migration, President López Obrador emphasized that he holds regular meetings with key officials, including the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, and Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez, as well as the Secretaries of National Defense, Luis Cresencio Sandoval González, and Marina, José Rafael Ojeda Durán. He also collaborates with various state governors.
In its pursuit of comprehensive solutions to the migration issue, the Mexican government is tackling the root causes of migration by creating opportunities for work and education. In countries like El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Cuba, and Ecuador, the government promotes programs such as “Sembrando Vida” and “Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro” to address these issues. These efforts have yielded positive results, notably a reduction in migration flows towards the United States.
President López Obrador also highlighted Mexico’s own economic growth and low unemployment rates. The government is actively promoting development centers and industrial parks in regions like the Istmo, creating job opportunities and fostering economic growth.
In addressing the complex issue of migration, President López Obrador emphasized that building walls or deploying military forces at borders is not a viable solution. He views migration as a global crisis driven by necessity, and he believes that policies should focus on addressing its root causes.
Furthermore, he emphasized the collaboration between Mexico and the United States to find joint solutions that support legal migration in Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. He acknowledged the historic agreement that enables the processing of work visas and humanitarian permits through the CBPOne application, which provides migrants with a legal pathway to the United States.
President López Obrador stressed the importance of working together to ensure the protection of migrants’ human rights, prevent their kidnapping, and establish mechanisms for legal access to the United States. He believes that this collaborative approach is crucial in addressing the complex issue of migration effectively.
Migrants Persist Despite Train Operations Suspension in Mexico, Heightening Risks
Ferromex, the railway company, recently announced the suspension of its freight train operations in response to a significant influx of migrants boarding these trains en route to the United States. Despite this suspension affecting 60 trains, migrants continue their journey on foot, navigating perilous terrains.
While efforts have been undertaken in various Central American countries to address the root causes of migration, partly through President Lopez Obrador’s social programs, non-governmental organizations argue that these measures are insufficient to safeguard the well-being of migrants traveling through Mexico.
Migrants are reporting distressing conditions, including hunger, fear, and children enduring extended periods without food while sleeping on the streets. Advocates are calling for immediate attention to these urgent issues.
Offers of employment on the Tren Maya or through apps remain distant and unrealistic options for migrants facing desperate circumstances, including hunger and the fear of mistreatment by officials tasked with their protection.
It is in this critical gap, where migrants urgently require humanitarian assistance, that nonprofit organizations are urging the Lopez Obrador administration to provide swift and compassionate solutions.
See Also:
Train Operations Fail to Stop Migrants
Soledad Quartucci | CEO/Founder, Latina Republic
At Latina Republic our mission is to foster regional understanding through stories, articles, interviews and reports that resonate from the heart of the Americas. Our primary objective is to encourage peaceful dialogue by shedding light on local perspectives often overlooked by mainstream media. We aspire to empower all stakeholders in resolving regional challenges by disseminating this valuable knowledge. We strive to capture the triumphs and struggles of everyday life in Latin America. Our stories track the evolution of social movements, amplifying the voices of those pioneering change.
