Mexico draws more asylum seekers despite violence, Second in the world only to U.S., Germany

This story from the Los Angeles Times surprised me.  I am not sure why but perhaps because it is because we in the United States consistently hear of the crisis along the U.S./Mexico border.     

Violence and economic inequality in Mexico drive many people to come to the United States. However, for others, Mexico offers a measure of peace and prosperity relative to that in their homelands.  “A safe, robust asylum system in Mexico eases pressure on the United States, which is looking more to other governments to manage migration.”  Funny, many U.S. observers loudly blame the Mexican government for not doing enough to stem migration to the U.S.  

Mexico was the world’s third-most popular destination for asylum seekers in 2021, according to the United Nations. The top two nations were the United States and Germany.  Mexico is on pace to end the year just below an all-time high of 131,400 asylum claims in 2021, led by Hondurans, Cubans and Haitians.

Map Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

KJ