Foreign Ministry Advances Consular Assistance and Protection to Support Mexican Migrants in the U.S.

• Acting Foreign Secretary Velasco reported on the allocation of 115 million pesos in proceeds from the "Mexico with M for Migrant" National Lottery draw, noting that the priority for these funds is the legal protection of Mexicans in the United States.
• A total of 5,320,151 consular services had been provided in all of Mexico's consulates abroad as of December 15, with 94 percent of which correspond to the U.S.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today announced the allocation of the 115 million pesos in proceeds from the "Mexico with M for Migrant" National Lottery draw, which will be directed to six core initiatives to bolster consular assistance and protection for Mexicans in the United States.

Acting Foreign Secretary Velasco specified that the largest share-50 million pesos-will be used to support legal representation in immigration cases, including bail funds; 35 million to increase specialized legal staff at 22 consulates with high demand for protection services; 10 million to boost detention center visitation programs; and 10 million to fund expanded mobile protection units.

Five million pesos will be earmarked for emergency humanitarian aid and disaster relief, while an equal amount will scale up proactive protection campaigns at 13 consulates along the border, said the acting foreign secretary in his remarks at the morning press conference led by President Claudia Sheinbaum.

In observance of International Migrants Day, Acting Foreign Secretary Velasco-who also serves as the Undersecretary for North America-highlighted the impact of these measures, some of which are already underway, and provided a progress report on the most important consular protection efforts conducted by the consular network in the United States from January 20 to December 15 of this year.

The planned measures include identifying cases with viable grounds to halt deportations, pursuing federal litigation for highly vulnerable individuals, increasing the frequency of detention center visits, expanding mobile protection units, extending outreach to remote areas, hiring additional specialized legal staff, and supporting Mexicans following natural disasters, among others.

Acting Secretary Velasco reported that, starting this week, the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago will partner with local organizations to help detainees secure bail as soon as the court allows. He said that this program, backed by a $300,000 USD investment, is expected to help up to 200 Mexicans navigate their immigration proceedings while out of custody.

Regarding this year's most significant consular protection efforts, the acting foreign secretary cited Interior Ministry data showing that 145,000 people have been repatriated, 130,364 of whom requested consular assistance.

Officials conducted 9,322 visits to immigration detention centers and referred 3,848 cases to the Legal Advice Program (PALE); of those, 33 cases involving $146,000 USD in bonds are currently moving forward, and 75 medical repatriations were also arranged.

As part of the "Assistance Protocol for Mexican Consular Offices"-which ensures uniform and efficient service in all Mexican consulates by reducing wait times and requirements-Acting Foreign Secretary Velasco reported that 5,320,151 consular services had been provided as of December 15, with 94 percent in the United States.

As a result of this protocol, consulates in the United States have seen an increase of over 100 percent in civil registry documentation because the process is now easier and faster with fewer requirements. Currently, 66.2 percent of consular appointments are scheduled online or through WhatsApp.

Acting Secretary Velasco announced that, by presidential instruction, a comprehensive evaluation will be conducted in January by the Digital Transformation Agency, led by José Antonio Peña Merino, of the entire consular network to further improve the quality and efficiency of services for the Mexican community.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its commitment to upholding the human rights of all Mexican nationals and ensuring they have access to high-quality, efficient consular assistance.