Deported Hidalgo migrants sent to southeastern Mexico, complicating their return home

At least 15 migrants from Hidalgo who were deported from the United States have ended up in Mexico’s southeast, far from their communities. The unexpected destinations are making their return home more difficult, according to Manuel Aranda, head of Hidalgo’s migrant assistance office.

Aranda said authorities have received several reports of Mexican nationals detained by U.S. immigration officials and returned to Mexico at locations other than their places of origin. Hidalgo migrants have been sent to southern border states including Chiapas, Tabasco and Quintana Roo.

Between 10 and 15 Hidalgo residents have needed help from federal authorities to prove their identity after arriving in Mexico, Aranda said. They often arrive without money or identification. To travel home, they must obtain a certificate or repatriation form containing information such as their CURP identification number and photographs. The document allows them to purchase tickets for ground or air travel.

Because deportees arrive without money, luggage or other belongings, authorities activate assistance mechanisms to help them reach Hidalgo. The support includes 2,000 pesos and ground transportation from reception points to their communities. State officials are also monitoring the cases and providing guidance.

Aranda said Hidalgo has not received reports of residents being sent to other countries during deportation. He added that under new migration policies, most deportees are people who lived in the United States for several years, rather than recent border-crossers. The returns, he said, are causing serious family disruption as relatives are separated and household routines are unsettled.