Mexico provides escort services for immigrants with U.S. asylum appointments

As of September 1, 2024, on August 11, the Mexican government announced that it would provide escorted bus services from southern Mexico to the north for non-Mexican immigrants who have obtained U.S. asylum appointments.

The National Immigration Institute said that buses will depart from the southern cities of Villahermosa and Tapachula. This measure is aimed at increasing the attractiveness of applying for asylum appointments from southern Mexico and preventing immigrants from heading north to Mexico City or the border. A week ago, the U.S. government expanded the use of the CBP One app to southern Mexico. This app allows asylum seekers to register and wait for appointments.

The Mexican government hopes that more immigrants will wait in the south, farther from the U.S. border. However, immigrants often complain that there are few job opportunities during the waiting period and the wait can last for months. Many people incur debts during their journey. Immigrants on the bus will receive a 20-day transit permit to legally travel in Mexico. Previously, although Mexican authorities said they respect immigrants with scheduled asylum appointments, some immigrants reported being caught and sent back to the south at checkpoints and missing their appointments.

The immigration agency said that local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies will provide security and meals for the buses. These trips help prevent immigrants from making arduous treks north on foot. This week, on a highway in Oaxaca state, a car hit three immigrants, killing three and injuring 17.

In the past year, many immigrants have chosen to wait for appointments in Mexico City because there are more job opportunities and it is relatively safe. Mexico has pressured the United States to expand the use of CBP One to ease the backlog of immigrants in Mexico City. Immigrants with resources will buy plane tickets and fly to the scheduled border crossing points to reduce the risk of being caught by the authorities or drug cartels.