AZMEX POLICY 11-4-18

AZMEX POLICY 11 APR 2018


Mexico will reinforce its southern border with more elements of the National Gendarmerie
AFP
http://www.jornada.com.mx/sin-fronteras/2018/04/11/mexico-reforzara-su-frontera-sur-con-mas-elementos-de-la-gendarmeria-nacional-4979.html

The Mexican government announced yesterday that it will increase the number of troops of the National Gendarmerie on the southern border to reinforce security but with the commitment to respect the human rights of Central American immigrants who cross the country to the United States.

Alfonso Navarrete, Secretary of Interior (secretario de Gobernación) met in the capital with Manuel Velasco, governor of Chiapas (sur), the state through which the bulk of undocumented migrants enter. "We have talked about border security, about strengthening our southern border," Navarrate told Velasco in a video posted on the governor's Facebook page.

This announcement comes amidst tensions with the United States following the onslaught of President Donald Trump about the advance, last week, through Mexican territory, of a caravan of more than 1,000 Central American migrants fleeing their countries because of poverty and the violence.

"We are going to reinforce the security with more elements of the Gendarmerie" Velasco said of his side, without detailing the numbers or deadlines for the deployment.

Navarrete stressed that it is also necessary to create "a broad framework of protection for human rights" of Central Americans who cross the country to the northern border with the intention of reaching the United States or stay in a Mexican town.

Trump accused Mexico of not doing enough to stop illegal immigration and announced the sending of thousands of National Guard troops to reinforce the US-MEX border.

President Enrique Peña Nieto accused Trum of having "threatening attitudes" and "disrespect" toward Mexico and ordered on Monday to evaluate cooperation programs with the United States.

Much of the caravan was dispersed in the state of Oaxaca (south) after immigration authorities gave the Central Americans permits of up to 20 days to leave the country or a month to begin the refugee application process in Mexico, which is being becoming a destination point.

Part of the caravan arrived in Mexico City in recent days, where its journey ended.

Organizations defending migrants, such as Pueblo sin Fronteras, which organized the caravan, are meeting this week with Mexican authorities to demand that the budget allocated to refugees be extended and travel permits issued to migrants, who in their clandestine journey are victims of corrupt authorities or criminals.

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