US Begins Giving Illegal Immigrants Free Flights Home (click here)
August 23rd, 2009MEXICO CITY - The U.S. government has begun flying illegal migrants caught in the Arizona desert back to Mexico under a voluntary repatriation program.
Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department says the twice-daily Tucson-to-Mexico City flights began Friday. It said Sunday that the annual summer program will run through Sept. 28.
The U.S. federal government launched the program in summer 2004 after years of record-setting migrant deaths along the state’s border with Mexico.
Authorities say the goal is to save lives and discourage repeat crossings by transporting migrants closer to their homes in Mexico, instead of simply deporting them across the border.
Now, the government of Mexico seeks to control its southern border. In making it more difficult to cross into Mexico the traffic to the USA is reduced.
New immigration law takes effect in Mexico (click title to entry - thank you)
2011-05-25 11:06
MEXICO CITY, May 24 -- A new immigration law took effect in Mexico on Tuesday aimed at better protection of undocumented migrants passing through Mexican territory on their way to the United States.
The new law will permit undocumented migrants to obtain a special visa when entering Mexico from either Guatemala or Belize and tries to enact reforms in the country's immigration ministry, which has been implicated as complicit in criminal acts such as kidnapping migrants.
"Today, Mexico is doing its part to improve the immigration system in North America," President Felipe Calderon said during a ceremony in which he signed the law.
"This, without doubt, is advanced legislation, bold legislation, immigration legislation with few precedents in the world," he said.
Migrants have been attacked and kidnapped in increasing numbers in Mexico. The National Human Rights Commission has reported that 11,333 migrants were abducted by criminal groups, including Los Zetas, during a six-month survey period in 2010.
The new law will permit undocumented migrants to obtain a special visa when entering Mexico from either Guatemala or Belize and tries to enact reforms in the country's immigration ministry, which has been implicated as complicit in criminal acts such as kidnapping migrants.
"Today, Mexico is doing its part to improve the immigration system in North America," President Felipe Calderon said during a ceremony in which he signed the law.
"This, without doubt, is advanced legislation, bold legislation, immigration legislation with few precedents in the world," he said.
Migrants have been attacked and kidnapped in increasing numbers in Mexico. The National Human Rights Commission has reported that 11,333 migrants were abducted by criminal groups, including Los Zetas, during a six-month survey period in 2010.
