Pushed into the Shadows: Mexico’s Reception of Haitian Migrants

Through interviews with Haitian migrants residing in Mexico, as well as interviews with officials at organizations aiding these migrants, this study traces the trajectory of Haitians in Mexico, their reasons for leaving Mexico, their experience living in countries like Brazil and Chile, and their treatment by the Mexican government. In 2021, 62,633 Haitians (including children born in Brazil and Chile) requested asylum in Mexico, more than any other nationality and representing 47 percent of all asylum requests in the country. Compared with other nationalities, however, approvals of Haitian asylum claims were quite low. Only 27 percent of applications were approved, compared to 98% for Venezuelans. The report focuses much of its attention on the plight of Haitians forced to reside in Tapachula, a city in the State of Chiapas near the Guatemalan border. Although there was a transfer program that moved around 35,000 Haitians in the space of two months to 17 other states in Mexico, its implementation was totally “chaotic.” The report concludes with a series of recommendations to the Mexican government, the U.S. government, and U.N. agencies. One recommendation to the Mexican government is to make legal status available to Haitians, even if they don’t qualify for asylum. The U.S. government is urged not to return Haitian children born in Brazil or Chile to Haiti. The UNHCR, after examining conditions in Haiti, is urged to issue a non-return order for Haitians residing in other countries.

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