US Deports Thousands of Cubans and Venezuelans to Danger in Mexico
The Trump administration's mass deportation plan has left many vulnerable individuals stranded in Mexico, facing unfamiliar dangers and challenges.
The Trump administration has deported nearly 13,000 Cubans, Venezuelans, and other nationals to Mexico, where they are exposed to cartel violence and other risks in an unfamiliar country.
According to a report by Human Rights Watch released on Wednesday, these deportees are generally older and have lived in the US for longer periods compared to previous years, making it harder for them to secure employment and access medical care.The acceptance of such deportations has been a long-standing practice in Mexico; however, the current situation is particularly concerning due to the age and length of stay of these individuals.
The report, based on interviews with over 50 individuals in the Mexican cities of Tapachula and Villahermosa, sheds light on the challenges faced by these deportees.As part of President Donald Trump's expanded immigration enforcement efforts, immigrants who were not previously targeted have been caught up in the mass deportation plan.
This includes Cubans who had lived in the US for years or even decades.
Some countries, such as Cuba and Venezuela, limit deportation flights or do not accept deportees at all, leading to individuals being sent to Mexico or other countries with which the US has reached agreements.The plight of these individuals is described by Alcira Hava, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, as deeply concerning.
Many are older adults who have been uprooted from their lives and left without access to basic services such as shelter and healthcare.
They are often abandoned in dangerous cities with no support or resources.Cubans represent the largest group deported to Mexico, with over 4,300 individuals affected.
More than half of these deportees had lived in the US since the 1980s or 1990s.
While most had green cards, they had lost them for various reasons.
Over half of the Cubans deported had criminal records, although only 16 percent were related to violent crimes.
One-fourth had no criminal history.The Cuban diaspora is shocked by the extent of Trump's immigration crackdown and the subsequent treatment of deportees in Mexico.
Once in Mexico, these individuals face limited job opportunities, restricted access to medical care, and heightened risks from cartel activity.
Receiving refugee status in Mexico can be a complicated process, and not all qualify.A shelter in Villahermosa has reported receiving Cuban deportees as old as 83 in recent years, which is significantly different from the young men and families it usually accommodates.
The situation is described by a shelter worker as a form of double punishment, as both the US and Cuba discard these individuals upon deportation.The exact details regarding the third-country deportations are unclear, as neither the US nor Mexico has made the agreement public.
Human Rights Watch urges both countries to publish this agreement and ensure that due process and international law are respected in such cases.
Additionally, HRW calls on Mexico to provide medical treatment and a pathway for legalizing immigration status for those unable to return to their home countries.
The organization also recommends that the US suspend these deportations unless guarantees are met.
According to a report by Human Rights Watch released on Wednesday, these deportees are generally older and have lived in the US for longer periods compared to previous years, making it harder for them to secure employment and access medical care.The acceptance of such deportations has been a long-standing practice in Mexico; however, the current situation is particularly concerning due to the age and length of stay of these individuals.
The report, based on interviews with over 50 individuals in the Mexican cities of Tapachula and Villahermosa, sheds light on the challenges faced by these deportees.As part of President Donald Trump's expanded immigration enforcement efforts, immigrants who were not previously targeted have been caught up in the mass deportation plan.
This includes Cubans who had lived in the US for years or even decades.
Some countries, such as Cuba and Venezuela, limit deportation flights or do not accept deportees at all, leading to individuals being sent to Mexico or other countries with which the US has reached agreements.The plight of these individuals is described by Alcira Hava, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, as deeply concerning.
Many are older adults who have been uprooted from their lives and left without access to basic services such as shelter and healthcare.
They are often abandoned in dangerous cities with no support or resources.Cubans represent the largest group deported to Mexico, with over 4,300 individuals affected.
More than half of these deportees had lived in the US since the 1980s or 1990s.
While most had green cards, they had lost them for various reasons.
Over half of the Cubans deported had criminal records, although only 16 percent were related to violent crimes.
One-fourth had no criminal history.The Cuban diaspora is shocked by the extent of Trump's immigration crackdown and the subsequent treatment of deportees in Mexico.
Once in Mexico, these individuals face limited job opportunities, restricted access to medical care, and heightened risks from cartel activity.
Receiving refugee status in Mexico can be a complicated process, and not all qualify.A shelter in Villahermosa has reported receiving Cuban deportees as old as 83 in recent years, which is significantly different from the young men and families it usually accommodates.
The situation is described by a shelter worker as a form of double punishment, as both the US and Cuba discard these individuals upon deportation.The exact details regarding the third-country deportations are unclear, as neither the US nor Mexico has made the agreement public.
Human Rights Watch urges both countries to publish this agreement and ensure that due process and international law are respected in such cases.
Additionally, HRW calls on Mexico to provide medical treatment and a pathway for legalizing immigration status for those unable to return to their home countries.
The organization also recommends that the US suspend these deportations unless guarantees are met.
