Haitian migrants camp out at Giordano Bruno plaza in the Juarez neighbourhood of Mexico City, May 18, 2023
MEXICAN federal immigration authorities cleared one of Mexico City’s largest city centre tent encampments of migrants on Thursday.
The National Immigration Institute says the people had been forced to pay bribes of between $12 (£9.42) and $35 (£27.50) to an official, who they didn’t identify, for the right to pitch a tent in the tightly packed space.
Most of the 432 people at the camp had some sort of visa allowing them to remain in Mexico, and simply agreed to leave. There were also some Mexican people at the camp, presumably homeless persons.
About 99 others were taken either to immigration offices or shelters. More than half of them were from Haiti, with most of the remainder either from Venezuela or Central America.
The closure of such camps has had little political cost for the Mexican government in the past, and has often been welcomed by local residents.
US President Joe Biden announced significant restrictions on those seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border earlier this week, which may lead more people to remain in Mexico as they apply.
