Mexico halts deportations and migrant transfers citing lack of funds
Source: Associated Press
Mexico halts deportations and migrant transfers citing lack of funds
BY MARÍA VERZA
Updated 11:44 PM EST, December 4, 2023
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The head of Mexico’s immigration agency has ordered the suspension of migrant deportations and transfers due to a lack of funds amid a record-setting year for migration through the country’s territory.
The suspensions were outlined in an agency memo dated Dec. 1 from director Francisco Garduño, whose authenticity was confirmed to the Associated Press by an agency official who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it.
Mexico’s finance ministry suspended payments to the National Immigration Institute in November due to end-of-year budget adjustments, according to the memo.
Citing budget constraints “and the lack of liquidity to cover commitments,” Garduño ordered a halt to various agency activities, most notably the “assisted returns,” a government euphemism to describe deportations, and “ground transportation for transfer of irregular migrants.”
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-migrants-venezuela-17615ace23d0677bb443d8386e254fbc
