MEXICO CITY — The deportee flights from U.S. to Mexico quietly have been put on hold for more than a year. But now, KJZZ confirms the suspension of that deportation process, bringing new challenges to Mexican deported migrants.
Mexico’s National Institute of Migration confirmed there are no more flights dropping U.S. deportees into Mexico City since late May 2018. The institute didn’t provide any reasons or explanations, arguing that the suspension is temporary. It is also unclear if this was a bilateral decision or not.
Atala Chávez is director of the Institute of Social and Cultural Research and Practice (IIPSOCULTA, for its acronym in Spanish), a nonprofit agency in Mexico City helping deported migrants.
"There used to be three flights arriving each week, but the deportees are now obliged to use border crossings," Chávez said.
"This decision is making deportees are more vulnerable now," she said. According to her, they arriving to violent border towns with no money, no jobs and not enough help.
Chávez said the federal program for repatriation is insufficient. And that migrants, as well as those who defend them, are being prosecuted.
