Mexico

Year-end Overview

Plan Overview

Working environment

 
The main drivers of forced displacement will continue, resulting in increasing numbers of people fleeing violence in the North of Central America (NCA) to Mexico. A greater number of people will decide to remain in Mexico, in particular in urban centres. As a result of immigration enforcement measures in Mexico and the United States of America, security risks are likely to evolve due to the presence of criminal organizations along migration routes. The increasing cost of travel North, will continue to affect people’s decision to remain in Mexico.
 
Mexico is a CRRF roll-out country in which the Government has agreed to implement the high standards of protection, and implement innovative solutions for refugees. This includes strengthening the refugee status determination (RSD) procedure based on international standards and the Mexican Commission for Aid to Refugees (COMAR) presence in regions with a high number of asylum claims; developing information campaigns about the right to seek asylum; strengthening the newly-established child protection authorities, and increasing efforts to improve identification of protection needs of unaccompanied and separated children; promoting dialogue with Governments of the region; implementing alternatives to detention; and promoting the socio-economic inclusion of refugees. UNHCR’s priority in the coming years is to strategically align its actions to the Government’s CRRF commitments and to provide technical support where needed. As such, the Office has aligned its multi-year,   multi-partner strategy’s strategic objectives to the four pillars of the CRRF.
 

Key priorities

 
In 2018, UNHCR will focus on:

• Ensuring that refugees have access to territory, asylum procedures and the full range of rights. This will involve capacity-building activities targeting staff involved in refugee status determination, providing information to people of concern and seeking full implementation of the quality assurance mechanism;

• Addressing the increasing number of asylum-seekers in Mexico, by improving reception conditions, strengthening the shelter capacity of , and by providing direct cash-based assistance while their refugee claims are being processed, helping to reduce the number of abandoned claims and increasing the number of people receiving the protection of refugee status.
• Encouraging the inclusion of refugees in the national economy, in local and national programmes and services, and in mobilizing development interventions to support these efforts.

• Advocating with the local authorities to ensure people of concern’ access to national programmes and services.  

Support the Mexican Government with the roll-out of the CRRF in the context of the New York Declaration. UNHCR will complement the efforts made by the Government for the protection of people of concern.