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The National Migration Institute (INM) of Mexico reported this Tuesday an increase in the number of accompanied and unaccompanied migrant children who have transited that country. The minors come mostly from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador .
“Since January 2021 have been identified to 34, 427 minors , accompanied and unaccompanied, who were transiting Mexican territory in an irregular condition ”, details the statement .
Of the total, 8, 525 infants traveled unaccompanied , while 25, 902 transited Mexican territory alongside at least one adult.
In comparison with 2020, there has been a fairly significant increase, since in the previous year there were hardly any 08, 703 accompanied and unaccompanied children who crossed Mexico, which is equivalent to an increase of 194, 17%, an alarming figure .
“According to the interviews conducted with migrants by federal immigration agents, they report that human traffickers They insist on being accompanied by minors to facilitate their transit through Mexico and even through the United States ”, indicates the Mexican entity.
Among the more than 34 one thousand infants, most are boys with 19, 859 and then females with 17, 568.
According to the migrants consulted by the INM, this massive flow is due to the change of the Migration Law in M exico that establishes not to house minors, nor their companions , in immigration stations or provisional stays.
“People identified as ‘polleros’ assure (migrants) that there is an amnesty in the United States that favors the entry of migrants, even being irregular and especially for those who go with girls, boys and adolescents “, explains the INM.
They end by ensuring that they work in the corresponding instances for” maintain a safe, orderly and regular migration. ”
UN asks Mexico to respect the human rights of migrants
On the other hand, the United Nations (UN) demanded that the Mexican authorities “respect the human rights of migrants” following the violent weekend operation for dissol see a caravan of migrants in the state of Chiapas, bordering Guatemala.
When President Joe Biden arrived at the White House last January, he suspended its predecessor’s “Stay in Mexico” program, which forced asylum seekers to wait for their hearing from Mexican territory, thousands of whom were stranded in border camps.
With that, the migratory flow rebounded so that the United States stopped last July at its southern border 212. 672 undocumented, the highest number in 20 years.
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