The southern border program has significantly increased migration enforcement operations, as well as migrant detentions and deportations. From July 2014 to June 2015, detentions of migrants rose 73 percent compared to the same period the year before; between July 2013 and June 2014, 97,245 migrants were detained, while 168,280 were detained between July 2014 and June 2015. Furthermore, government data indicates there has been an increase in migration enforcement operations; however, more reliable data is needed.
This increased enforcement has prompted an upsurge in human rights violations against migrants. Abuses have been documented in these migration operations, which are increasingly conducted in conjunction with security forces. Migrant shelters have documented kidnappings, extortions, robberies, and abuses throughout the country.
Given this panorama, the Mexican government’s efforts to strengthen its capacity to protect migrants have fallen short of what is needed.
