Mexican authorities predict fewer Mexican immigrants will be back home for Christmas

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Mexican authorities predict a decline in the number of Mexican nationals returning to their country during the holiday season due to the current economic crisis and the necessity of having a passport to re-enter the United States, according to Cecilia Romero Castillo, Commissioner of Mexico’s National Institute of Migration. “According to our estimates, approximately 850,000 individuals will return this year, whereas last year the number was more than 1 million,” she said.

Romero Castillo was in Los Angeles this week to attend the opening of the Feria Paisano, which was founded 20 years ago to educate Mexican and foreign nationals on the regulations for entry into Mexico. The commissioner emphasized that, thanks to new controls the Mexican government has imposed, both extortion attempts and abuses of immigrants have diminished. According to statistics, authorities received approximately 370 complaints between 2008 and 2009. The issue receiving the greatest number of complaints, more one-third, is extortion.

“Additionally,” added Romero Castillo, “the majority of complaints, 28%, have been against state and local police departments, with the state of Tamaulipas receiving the greatest number.”

The Mexican government is also attempting to improve the situation of Central American immigrants in Mexico on their way to the United States, according to Romero Castillo. “We ask the U.S. government for fair treatment of our citizens, and we are working to do the same for Central Americans who enter our country. For example, we now have an identification card for Guatemalan citizens which can be presented to the police to prevent abuses.”

Romero Castillo said that the Mexican government is also working with their states to bring the so-called “brains of the operation” (human trafficking), known as “coyotes,” to justice.

-- Paula Diaz/HOY

To read the full story in Spanish this Friday, go to www.vivelohoy.com