Mexico has opened the door to potentially receiving non-Mexican migrants deported by the United States, reversing an earlier stance that it would press President-elect Donald Trump to repatriate deportees directly to their countries of origin.
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced during a press briefing that Mexico is prepared to collaborate through “different mechanisms” in cases where the US is unable to return migrants to their home countries. While she did not elaborate on specific measures, options could include limiting the acceptance of certain nationalities or negotiating compensation from the US to fund the transfer of deportees from Mexico to their respective countries.
“There will be time to speak with the United States government if these deportations really happen,” Sheinbaum stated. “But we will receive them here, we are going to receive them properly, and we have a plan.”
President-elect Trump has pledged to ramp up deportations significantly, a promise that critics argue faces considerable logistical challenges. Despite the already high deportation rates under prior administrations, experts question whether infrastructure and international cooperation can sustain the proposed increase.
Under international law, Mexico is not obligated to accept non-Mexican migrants. However, in recent years, Mexico has agreed to such arrangements, particularly involving deportees from countries like Cuba and Venezuela, which often reject US deportation flights but may accept migrants sent from Mexico.
Mexico’s stance on deportations has fluctuated in recent years. In December 2023, deportations were temporarily halted due to funding shortages, and deportation numbers have remained substantially lower in 2024 compared to the two preceding years. As talks with the incoming US administration loom, Mexico’s evolving policy signals a potential shift in immigration collaboration between the two nations.