The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, praised Mexico on Thursday for hosting 50,000 refugees, calling this achievement a milestone that highlights the leadership of Latin America in protecting these vulnerable groups.
In the words of the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, "Our colleagues from UNHCR reported today that Mexico recently marked a milestone. 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers have integrated into Mexican communities." Since 2016, these refugees have had access to health services, education, housing, and employment, and they have been facilitated access to Mexican nationality.
UNHCR has communicated that the number of refugees and asylum seekers welcomed by Mexico has exceeded 50,000, making the country a notable example of solidarity. These refugees have been relocated to industrial cities through the Local Integration Program, created by UNHCR and coordinated with federal and local authorities, as well as with the private sector.
More than 650 companies participate in these programs, and refugees contribute about 15 million dollars annually in tax revenue to the Mexican economy. According to Dujarric, 94% of working-age refugees secure formal employment in their first month in Mexico, 88% of school-age children access schooling, and 60% of families escape poverty within a year.
