Mexico has now opened the possibility of accepting non-Mexican migrants deported by the United States, reversing its initial stance that it would pressure President-elect Donald Trump to send deportees back to their countries of origin directly.
In a recent press briefing, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that if the U.S. cannot return migrants to their home countries, Mexico is open to collaborating through various mechanisms.
While she did not provide specifics, it’s possible that Mexico may limit this arrangement to certain nationalities or seek compensation from the U.S. for transporting the deportees to their home countries.
Sheinbaum emphasized, “There will be time to discuss this with the U.S. government if these deportations occur, but we will accept them here, ensure their proper reception, and we have a plan in place.”
Trump has promised large-scale deportations, though critics have noted that increasing deportation numbers would present significant logistical challenges.
While Mexico, like other nations, is not obligated to accept non-Mexican migrants, it has recently agreed to do so, particularly for migrants from countries like Cuba and Venezuela, who often refuse deportation flights from the U.S. but may accept them from Mexico.
Mexico temporarily halted deportations in December 2023 due to funding issues, and the number of deportations was significantly reduced in 2024 compared to previous years.
