The Mexican government is rolling out its new migrant repatriation strategy under the banner "México Te Abraza," which aims to create a warm and supportive environment for Mexicans returning from the United States. This initiative marks a significant shift from previous approaches to migration and emphasizes the importance of dignity and reintegration for returning citizens.
During recent announcements, Michoacán Senator Raúl Morón Orozco noted, "The compatriots who return will find a Mexico different from the one they left; we are now building a country where they can develop." His statements come at a time when the government is enhancing its national repatriation strategy, which seeks to offer not only assistance but also opportunities for personal and professional growth for returning Mexicans.
According to Rosa Icela Rodríguez, the Secretary of the Interior, the initiative is prepared to welcome returning migrants with humanism and certainty of opportunities. "We are ready to receive our compatriots with warmth, ensuring they have the necessary support for a dignified life back home," she stated at the President's conference at the National Palace.
The repatriation strategy comprises three key components. First, it provides consular assistance and protection, ensuring the rights of returning citizens through collaboration with United Nations agencies and other organizations. Second, the strategy includes reception support at six border states where reception centers will be established. Lastly, it focuses on reintegration services to address basic needs through social service initiatives and employment programs.
These reception centers will be strategically located in municipalities adjoining the 11 points designated for the return of Mexicans. Each will be equipped with all the necessary amenities, including electricity, water, internet, drainage, and transport links. Utilization of these centers is already planned, with two planned for Baja California—one each in Tijuana and Mexicali—along with others across the border states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.
Rodríguez highlighted the collaborative effort with governors of the border states to deliver services like cleaning, sanitation, waste collection, and potable water supply to these centers. A fleet of 189 buses is set to facilitate the transport of individuals from border repatriation points to these new centers, along with 100 additional vehicles for bringing them to their home states.
These centers will also register beneficiaries who will receive personal hygiene items and medical attention, as well as services for reintegration, including food, accommodation, and housing support. To bolster the repatriation process and overall welfare, food assistance will be provided with the help of the National Defense Secretariat and the Navy Secretariat, which will include mobile kitchens featuring diverse meal options.
The government emphasizes its commitment to treat returning migrants not as criminals but as valued members of society who contribute to the nation. Rodríguez declared, "The people of Mexico are hardworking, honest, and supportive; our migrants should be treated with dignity." The sentiment echoed by Morón reinforces the aim of presenting Mexico not just as a country of transit but as one of inclusivity and growth.
"Today, the nation they left is different; it is more just and equal," Rodríguez emphasized, reiteration of the government’s promise to protect and uphold the rights of its returning citizens. The administration envisions repatriation as not merely a return but as reconnection to their roots and culture—essentially, coming back home.
This new policy reflects Mexico's evolution and growing commitment to not only embrace its returning citizens but also to support them as they reintegrate by offering opportunities for development and improvement. The initiative signals change and aims to reshape perceptions around migration and return among both citizens and the diaspora."