A Flawed Asylum System in Mexico, Strained Further by U.S. Changes
Photo from Wikipedia
Kirk Semple of the New York Times reports that, as the Trump administration pushes forward with its plans to tighten border enforcement, Mexico has been under pressure to take in an increasing number of asylum seekers making their way north from Central America, many of them fleeing gang violence that is at epidemic proportions.
While the Mexican government has made improvements to its asylum program in recent years and has awarded protection at increasingly higher rates, the system remains deeply flawed, leaving many migrants vulnerable to harm, according to reports published in recent weeks by groups focused on human rights and migration.
The weaknesses include inadequate staffing in Mexico’s refugee agency, leading to months long waits for applicants; uneven training and supervision of immigration agents; and inconsistent adjudication of asylum law, according to the reports.
KJ