A Call for Compassion and Unity in the Face of Xenophobia and Dehumanization
Mexico City (Friday, April 18, 2025) — The undersigned organizations express our concern regarding the interruption of the construction of a shelter for migrants in the Nueva Santa María neighborhood in the Azcapotzalco borough of Mexico City, as well as the general situation of migrants in the city. This comes in response to the rejection by some residents of the construction of the shelter, citing legitimate complaints such as water shortages and lack of services, but also fueled by the spread of xenophobic and criminalizing discourse.
Cross-border flows are driven by humanitarian crises characterized by forced displacement, and many of the people currently in Mexico are refugees who cannot return to their country of origin. Perhaps most originally sought to reach the United States, just as many Mexicans have done over the years, no longer a viable option due to the collaboration between Presidents Claudia Sheinbaum and Donald Trump to close the border between our countries and keep non-Mexicans in Mexico.
That there are potentially hundreds of thousands of people trapped or living in Mexico requires the creation of infrastructure with greater capacity to receive refugees. The migrant shelter proposed by the government on the empty lot known as "El Gran Mural" is aimed to serving the growing migrant population that has taken up temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent residence in the city and who currently live in improvised and precarious camps in various parts of the city periphery.
We applaud the Mexico City government for its efforts to build shelters, a moral and humanitarian task, especially given the abusive treatment Mexicans and non-Mexicans alike have been facing in the United States. We also remind the government — not only at the local level but also the federal — that respecting the rights of migrants and guaranteeing their free access to those rights is an obligation of the Mexican state under the Mexican Constitution and its international agreements (see footnote).
Moreover, Mexico has historically been a country of migrants to the United States, where they have also been victims of xenophobia, persecution, and racism — even today — while contributing to sustaining the Mexican economy through remittances and enriching U.S. culture. Our country has also received asylum seekers and refugees (from the Spanish Civil War, exiles from the Southern Cone dictatorships, and Cuban nationals fleeing the island) who have historically been welcomed as part of a long tradition of refuge.
That said, we call for balance. We recognize the need to establish and respect agreements with residents regarding the originally intended use of the lot; to address the water crisis affecting the borough; and to ensure basic services for those who would reside in that or any other shelter.
At the same time, racist, xenophobic, ethno-nationalist, and criminalizing hate speech is unacceptable; as is the harassment of migrants or people perceived as migrants — whether in person or online — based on their skin color, clothing, or accent; the spread of misinformation on social media; and calls to deny such basic needs as water or food.
We firmly believe that dehumanization, no matter who it comes from or who it is directed against, only creates an environment where the human rights of everyone become more vulnerable to violation. We cannot excuse dehumanizing expressions, but we do understand that they often stem from a place of social fear among those who express them.In the face of xenophobic rejection, we appeal to the solidarity and humanity of the communities where shelters could be built. We appeal to residents, organizations, and authorities to remember that just across the northern border, many of our fellow countrymen face the same persecution, discrimination, and mistreatment that is now being rhetorically justified. We understand the need to consult local residents regarding the construction of the shelter, but we also appeal to authorities to balance the needs of those who migrate and lack the most basic necessities with their legal obligations.
We invite other organizations fighting for human rights and the right to a dignified life on various fronts to take a stand and join forces in rejecting xenophobic discourse and supporting marginalized populations who, until recently, and still today, could be our fellow citizens. We remind everyone that as human rights defenders, we cannot turn a blind eye to the dehumanization of anyone, and that insofar as we allow it, we set a precedent for it to be used against anyone — including ourselves.
Sincerely,
Frontera Solidaria
Frontera Federation
La Otra Escuela
Transcontingenta
For media inquiries, please email fronterafederation@gmail.com or transcontingenta@gmail.com.
Political Constitution of the United Mexican States. (2024). Article 1. Mexico. This article establishes the principle of non-discrimination and guarantees the human rights recognized by the Constitution and international treaties to which Mexico is a party; Political Constitution of the United Mexican States. (2024). Article 11. Mexico. (This article protects the right to free movement and provides protection to individuals who enter, transit through, or leave Mexican territory.); Political Constitution of the United Mexican States. (2024). Article 133. Mexico. (This article establishes that international treaties signed and ratified by Mexico are part of the supreme law of the country.); United Nations. (1990). International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-protection-rights-all-migrant-workers. (This convention comprehensively protects the human rights of migrant workers and their families.); Organization of American States. (1969). American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San José). https://www.oas.org/dil/treaties_B-32_American_Convention_on_Human_Rights.htm
(Recognizes rights such as freedom of movement and residence and prohibits the arbitrary expulsion of migrants.); United Nations. (2018). Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
https://www.iom.int/en/global-compact-migration. Although not legally binding, Mexico committed to respecting the dignity, rights, and well-being of migrants regardless of their status. United Nations. (1966). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights. (Protects rights such as freedom of movement and due process guarantees for all individuals, including migrants).