Deported Mexicans by the new Administration of Donald Trump report having suffered mistreatment by U.S. authorities. Despite the accusations, the Government of Mexico has denied that human rights violations occurred and has promised to defend its nationals.
The deported individuals reported to EFE that they were kept in precarious conditions in the United States before arriving at the Deportee Care Center located in Tijuana, a border city 15 kilometers from the El Chaparral border crossing. Iván Ramos Reyes, originally from Chihuahua, described his experience as "bitter and frustrating" after being detained following nearly a decade in the United States.
"I lived in Las Vegas, had been there for eight years and was working in construction, living well. I was stopped when I was driving my car to Utah, by a police officer, under the pretext that my lights were not on, and from there they called immigration, and after two days locked up, they sent me back here," detailed Ramos Reyes.
The Government of Mexico has reported that since the beginning of Trump’s mandate in January, 14,470 people have been deported to the country. Despite statements from Mexican authorities about the non-existence of mistreatment once the deportees arrive on Mexican territory, some migrants contradict this claim.
Rogelio, for example, pointed out that they were treated inadequately by U.S. authorities. "They received us poorly, kept us from midnight on the day we were detained, kept us handcuffed and without knowing what was going to happen or how they were going to expel us from the country," he stated.
Other testimonies, like Daniel's, also reflect similar experiences of mistreatment. "My experience was very cool (good), because I spent three days in the desert without eating, I was detained and was still locked up handcuffed, that's why I'm happy to return to my country, although I do not rule out trying to cross again," he sarcastically recounted.
The Deportee Care Center in Tijuana has received 754 people, mostly men, since its opening. Mónica Vega, the center's coordinator, indicated that most of the deported have attempted to cross the border and some have been deported after their applications for political asylum or work permit renewals were denied.
In general, the reports of mistreatment and inhumane conditions by U.S. authorities towards deported Mexicans pose a worrying issue that is being monitored by the Mexican Government in collaboration with local organizations defending human rights.
