The Government of Mexico will allocate 115.9 million pesos (US$6.30 million), raised through the National Lottery draw “Mexico with an M for Migrant”, to strengthen the consular protection network for Mexican nationals in the United States.
Minister of Foreign Relations Juan Ramón de la Fuente made the announcement during President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s morning press conference. He emphasized that the funds will be used for immediate actions with direct impact and measurable results, which will be reported clearly and periodically to the public.
De la Fuente explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) has identified six strategic areas for the use of these resources.
First, legal representation and orientation in immigration and criminal cases will be strengthened, with the aim of improving defense in deportation processes and minor offenses. Special attention will be given to providing comprehensive support to detained minors or those in vulnerable situations, as well as expanding the capacity to cover bail in critical cases.
The second initiative involves reinforcing consular staff in 11 high-demand offices —including Brownsville, Detroit, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Miami, New Brunswick, New Orleans, Omaha, Presidio, and San Bernardino— with specialists in protection and community affairs.
A third program will focus on increasing consular protection visits to detention centers, workplaces, and prisons, many of which are located far from consular offices. These visits will help verify detention conditions, ensure that due process is respected, and document possible human rights violations.
In addition, mobile preventive protection brigades will be launched in rural areas, agricultural fields, and shelters, to provide migration assessments, talks on preventing and dealing with migration risks, and information about rights when dealing with local authorities. These actions aim to reach communities that often remain outside the scope of consular services.
The fifth area will focus on emergency response to natural disasters, to support Mexican nationals affected by floods, fires, hurricanes, and other calamities that have recently impacted migrant communities in the United States.
Finally, the sixth action will strengthen the dissemination of preventive programs and informational materials through social media and local outlets, as part of the campaign “Know and Exercise Your Rights”, designed to empower the Mexican community in the face of migration risks and cases of abuse.
De la Fuente emphasized that the use of these funds will be evaluated quarterly to ensure transparency and effectiveness.
The Mexican migrant community in the United States, which exceeds 37 million people of Mexican origin, has been essential to the economy and culture of both nations. However, it continues to face ongoing vulnerabilities, from arbitrary detentions to labor exploitation and limited access to basic services.
Through this program, the federal government aims to strengthen Mexico’s network of 52 consulates in the United States —the largest in the world— and turn them into true “Centers of Defense and Support” for Mexican nationals abroad.
Related: Remittances via Finabien Paisan@ card total $22.86 million from the U.S. to Mexico
Mexican Press Agency is part of ALMA, which is dedicated to news and information about Mexico and Mexicans in the United States and is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Focus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Redwood City, California.
