Mexico – IOM Mexico will accompany the third Migrant Caravan to Queretaro, taking place this Saturday, 22 December.

The Caravan to Queretaro is scheduled to depart Laredo, Texas early Saturday morning, and after several stops in the cities of Monterrey, Saltillo and Rio Verde, will complete the 1108 kilometre journey (689 miles) in Queretaro in the evening.   The city of Queretaro is located some 220 kilometres northwest of Mexico City.

“The State of Queretaro has been extremely active in promoting activities for the protection of migrants, regardless of their nationality and destination.  We hope these types of best practices can be replicated in other states of origin of migrants in order to promote safe migration patterns”, said Thomas Lothar Weiss, IOM Chief of Mission in Mexico.  

According to estimates from the Mexican National Migration Institute, some one million Mexicans return to their communities of origin in Mexico each December to spend the holidays with their families.  
 
They often fall victim to extortion, robbery and other violent crimes during their trip south.  In 2010, two buses transporting migrants returning from the United States to Queretaro disappeared and have not been found.

This and many other crimes committed against returning migrants led local authorities to create the first Migrant Caravan in December 2010, which allows migrants to travel in large groups and be informed and protected against criminals and the possibility of encountering corrupt officials during their journey.

In 1989, a Federal Agreement by the Mexican Government was established to provide greater security to these returning migrants crossing Mexico’s border, simplify administrative procedures and disseminate information about travellers’ rights and obligations.  The Agreement, now called Programa Paisano, involves more than 20 government entities and offices in the U.S. cities of Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

Last year, state authorities and migrants returning to the states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo and Oaxaca also participated in the Caravan initiative.  This year, several institutions, such as the State Commission of Human Rights, church groups, local radios and the University of Queretaro will participate in the Caravan, along with IOM.

For more information, please contact

José Ramón CORDOBA
IOM México
Tel. +52 55 55 36 39 22
Email: jcordoba@iom.int