On Tuesday, April 29, the phrase “To the Mexican Migrant Community” was unveiled in golden letters on the Wall of Honor in the session hall of Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies as a tribute to the dedication and efforts of Mexican migrants.
During the ceremony, Sergio Gutiérrez Luna, President of the Chamber of Deputies, stated that Mexican immigrants will never be abandoned when it comes to the protection of their rights.
He emphasized that the Chamber recognizes these heroines and heroes, guaranteeing that “they will always be welcome in our country; they will never be forsaken in the protection of their rights. Wherever a Mexican lives, there is Mexico.”
Calling it a cruel and unjust lie, he rejected the notion that migrants are to blame for crime, unemployment, or other social issues, saying such claims are rooted solely in discriminatory thinking.
“Migrant Mexicans generate income that, by itself, would rank as the world’s tenth largest economy, contributing $781 billion. They are drivers of development, strengthening the economies of both their host countries and their families back home,” he said.
He also noted that Mexico is a country impacted by all dimensions of migration—it is a destination, origin, and transit country.
Migration, he stated, has always had the same goal since the dawn of humanity: to find better living conditions. Despite the varied challenges it presents, every migrant must be acknowledged, never criminalized, for their status.
As the champion for the initiative, Deputy Marcela Guerra Castillo said that the symbolic ceremony would leave a lasting mark. The inscription “To the Mexican Migrant Community” is a tribute to those who have historically built cultural, social, and identity-based bonds through migration.
She stated that recognizing the migrant community is an act of justice for millions of Mexicans who have sought better opportunities abroad by relocating to other countries.
“Today, we remind the U.S. government: migration is not a problem—it is an opportunity. Criminalizing migration will not resolve deeper challenges; on the contrary, it will increase stigma, violence, the suffering of thousands of human beings, and segregation,” she said.
Deputy Roselia Suárez Montes de Oca highlighted that the Wall of Honor represents the nation’s memory and that this act has carved out a mythical space to honor the collective heroism of the Mexican migrant community.
“The golden letters are the least we can offer the 40 million women and men who, compelled by various needs, made the profound decision to migrate in search of a better life,” she stressed.
She affirmed that the migrant Mexican community faces severe risks abroad, including discrimination, racist violence, persecution, and criminalization.
Deputy Blanca Leticia Gutiérrez Garza said this recognition brings justice and gratitude to the Chamber of Deputies, noting that “these aren’t just golden letters on a wall; they are the voices of millions of Mexicans who, far from home, remain the beating heart of Mexico.”
“This is not only recognition—it is an act of memory, dignity, and reparation, because migrating has never been easy. Often, it has been the only option,” she stated.
She acknowledged that inscribing this phrase does not erase injustices or borders, but it sends a clear message: “Mexico does not forget those who carry it on their shoulders across the world.” She also thanked the migrant community for sustaining the homes they left behind with their hard work.
Deputy Alejandro Pérez Cuéllar said the tribute honors Mexican migrant men and women, heroes of the nation, whose courage, labor, and love for Mexico know no borders.
“Migrants are not criminals—they are tireless workers, good-hearted men and women. They are not invisible; they are flesh-and-blood heroes. They are Mexico at the heart of the world, through their sacrifice, love for their homeland, and daily struggle. Love is repaid with love, and honor to whom honor is due,” he said.
For Deputy Nora Yessica Merino Escamilla, “migrating is not a crime—it is an act of hope, a fight for survival and a better life. It is a painful yet transformative decision. Those golden letters are not decoration; they are a debt, a tribute, and a commitment.”
She emphasized that now more than ever, this symbolic recognition must translate into concrete promises—not just words of gratitude, but real protections, promotion of cultural production, assurance of dignified return, facilitation of job reintegration, advancement of effective political rights abroad, and guaranteed access to inclusive services and programs for those who had to leave.
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