Mexican migrants attempting to cross the U.S. border are facing increasingly dangerous and inhumane conditions. Following a recent meeting in Piedra Negras, Coahuila, the bishops from along the Mexico-U.S. border once again denounced the dire circumstances affecting thousands of people. They issued a strong appeal—not only to governments but also to civil society—calling for accountability of the violations against human dignity faced by those fleeing war, violence, and extreme poverty.
The bishops described the migratory route through Mexico as “the most dangerous in the world.” According to the International Organization for Migration, migrants escaping devastating conditions in their home countries face exponentially greater risks as they travel through Mexican territory.
Since January, the U.S. has blocked key legal avenues for seeking asylum, including applications via the CBP One app and humanitarian permits. On top of that, there have also been forced transfers, families separated, and deportations to third countries. The level of insecurity along the route is deeply concerning as kidnappings, extortion, forced labour, and sexual violence have become everyday dangers.
The dismantling of migrant shelters, driven by U.S. policy, has further deepened migrants’ vulnerability and invisibility—particularly in peripheral areas where they live in fear of being detained or forcibly removed and where they lack access to basic services.
In their final statement, the bishops called for immediate and coordinated action to “open safe and legal humanitarian corridors for the most vulnerable migrants and refugees.” They reaffirmed their belief that while every nation has the right to protect its borders, it also has the responsibility to safeguard human life and ensure migration is safe, orderly, and humane—this includes respecting the right to asylum.
“The Church reaffirms the urgent need for the rule of law that protects families, especially migrant and refugee families, who are now facing even greater hardships.”
