More than half of migrants crossing into Mexico in 2023 experienced violence: UNHCR

He 56% of migrants who crossed Mexico in 2023 they suffered from some type abuse such as robbery or physical threatsThis is stated in a study by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

“The Impact of Forced Displacement on People’s Mobility” indicates that 56% of people surveyed had experienced violence while transiting the country because robbery (27%), extortion (17%) and physical threats or intimidation (15%)among the others.

“Protection monitoring results show that irregular crossings in Mexico are as dangerous for people on the move as the Darien jungle (between Panama and Colombia) and Central American countries,” UNHCR adds.

In these territories, “almost half” of respondents also had problems with protection, especially attacks (23%) and extortion (17%).

788 thousand were returned to their countries of origin by land or air

Additionally, the agency notes that of the 1.5 million people resettled in Mexico between January and September 2023, 788 million were returned to their countries of origin by land or air.

This figure is especially important since 66% of respondents assured that “their life, safety or freedom” They would be in danger if they were returned to their land.

“This indicates that their deportation would be a violation of the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international refugee law,” UNHCR warns.

Beginning in June 2023, deportations from the United States to Mexico of people attempting to cross the border were analyzed, identifying 139 cases involving 207 people who may have needed international protection after “fleeing violence” in their home countries.

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Destination country, USA.

The report also found that the top destination for mobile migrants was the United States (63%), although 26% of those surveyed wanted to stay in Mexico.

Among the people who intended to settle in the country were people from Guatemala (37%), Honduras (36%) and Cuba (31%).

On the other side, 88% of Venezuela’s population the interviewee had the goal of rebuilding her life in the United States.

According to UNHCR, 55% of the population surveyed traveled in family groups, and among this portion, the largest family type was single-parent families (22%).

In addition, 32% of migrants surveyed had “special protection needs,” such as being mothers or single caregivers (13%), survivors of physical, sexual or psychological violence (6%), or people with chronic illnesses or situations (6). %).

The survey, conducted between January and December last year in different parts of Mexico, includes interviews with 15 thousand migrants of different nationalities, with Hondurans (28%), Venezuelans (17%) and Cubans (12%) having the largest share. (EFE)

See the full UNHCR report below:

“The Impact of Forced Displacement on Human Mobility.” UNHCR by Aristegui Noticias on Scribd

Source: Aristegui Noticias

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