Mexico’s immigration enforcement has been increasingly relying on armed forces and National Guard to assist with migrant detentions.
Advocates have been arguing that the detentions are arbitrary and based on racial profiling, resulting in abuse.
Between June 2019 and December 2020, the armed forces detained more than 152,000 migrants at Mexico’s southern border. Mexico previously used the military for immigration enforcement but has increased its reliance under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Migrants of African origin and women have been experiencing abuse including discrimination, extortion and sexual abuse.