Mexican authorities are constructing large tent shelters in Cicada Juarez to accommodate a potential influx of Mexican citizens deported from the United States. These temporary shelters, with a capacity to house thousands, are expected to be operational within days.
This initiative is part of a broader plan by the Mexican government to establish shelters and reception centers in nine northern cities. These facilities will provide deported individuals with essential services, including food, temporary housing, medical care, and assistance in obtaining necessary documents. The government also plans to utilize a fleet of buses to transport deported individuals back to their hometowns.
According to a recent study by El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF), nearly 5 million Mexicans reside in the United States without authorization. A significant portion of these individuals hail from regions plagued by violence and poverty, such as Michoacan, Guerrero, and Chiapas, where ongoing conflicts with organized crime groups have forced many to flee their homes.
Undocumented Americans in Mexico: A Less Prominent Issue
While the issue of undocumented Mexican migrants in the US is widely reported, the presence of undocumented Americans in Mexico receives less attention.
Estimates suggest that nearly 2 million Americans reside in Mexico illegally. However, the National Migration Institute of Mexico lacks precise data on this population. Unlike in the US, there are no prominent advocacy groups defending the rights of American citizens living in Mexico illegally, and the issue has not gained significant traction in Mexican political discourse.
Given the challenges posed by illegal immigration from Central America, including the threat of drug cartels and human trafficking, the presence of undocumented Americans is considered a relatively minor concern for Mexican immigration authorities.