The Government of Mexico will request the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today, so that in coordination with the authorities of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, and in conjunction with the National Institute of Migration (INM) and the Mexican Commission for Assistance to Refugees (COMAR), it accompanies the attention given to any applicants for refugee status at Mexico's southern border.
The request for support from the UNHCR will be presented formally today by Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray during his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York.
The purpose of taking this step is to contribute to a humanitarian solution, in accordance with legislation, that is respectful of human rights, transparent, and has the assistance of the international community through the pertinent bodies of the United Nations. In addition, this measure seeks to guarantee the safety and physical integrity of the migrants, especially minors, the elderly and women, and to prevent people from being deceived by international criminal organizations engaged in migrant smuggling, which endangers their lives.
Specific information on the support provided by the UNHCR regarding the processing of refugee applications and support for the applicants during their stay in Mexico will be made public as soon as a formal response is received.
In accordance with its previous statements on this situation, the Government of Mexico reiterates:
1. Any person wishing to enter national territory must do so by complying with the requirements established in the Migration Law and at the authorized entry points, and may then move freely in Mexico until the expiration of the visa.
2. Current legislation does not permit entry into Mexico if requirements to travel to a neighboring country have not been met.
3. Any person who enters national territory and wishes to request refugee status or receive complementary protective measures, must do so in accordance with current legislation and international law.
Lastly, the Mexican government reiterates its commitment to the efforts of the international community on behalf of safe, orderly and regular migration, and to the human rights of migrants. At the same time, it expresses its belief that dialogue and international cooperation between the migrants' countries of origin, transit and destination are essential for addressing the challenges involved with the issue of migration.
The UNHCR is the UN agency whose main objective is to protect refugees; it has liaison offices on our southern border, in Tapachula, Chiapas, and Tenosique, Tabasco.