- We must stop thinking of migration only in reference to border crossings and begin to see it as a system: Ebrard
- Alexandra Délano Alonso, author of the book, is a specialist in Mexico's relationship with its diaspora and the United States.
- The Matías Romero Institute and El Colegio de México have organized a cycle on "Migration: reflections on the situation."
A virtual book presentation of From Here and There: Diaspora Policies, Integration and Social Rights Beyond Borders by Alexandra Délano Alonso was held today. The event was led by Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, with the participation of the president of El Colegio de México, Silvia Giorguli Saucedo; the head of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, Luis Gutiérrez Reyes; and the Director General of the Matías Romero Institute, Alejandro Alday González.
The participants discussed key issues of the migration between Mexico and the United States, including Mexico's ties with its diaspora as a foreign policy priority and the way in which the narrative around this issue has changed in recent years. Foreign Secretary Ebrard highlighted the author's retrospective vision, which makes us reflect on the way we relate to our migrants and see that our ideas about the Mexican-American community do not evolve at the same rate as does reality, he said.
He noted that the new dialogue with the United States must be seen from a regional perspective, based on the understanding that there must be much more shared responsibility and a greater focus on development than there has been in recent years. We must "stop seeing migration only in reference to border crossings and begin to see it as a system," he said.
Also discussed were Mexico's programs in the areas of education, health, financial education, labor rights and the English language, among others, that go beyond consular protection with the goal of assisting with the integration of Mexicans abroad, mainly in the United States. The participants also highlighted what has been achieved and the enormous challenges faced by the governments of Mexico and other Latin American countries to ensure the inclusion of the diverse groups that make up their communities, and the comprehensive measures that must be taken for those citizens who return to Mexico.
The book by Alejandra Délano Alonso, published in Spanish by El Colegio de México, offers an in-depth study of the reality of migrant communities in their new settings and governments' efforts to help with their integration, which is very useful for the design of public policies in countries that maintain ties with their diasporas.
