Experts: Mexican President's Defense of Migrants at UN Doesn't Square with Reality at Home Mark Browne - CNSNews.com
go to original September 23, 2016

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto addresses U.N. Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York (Associated Press)

Mexico City (CNSNews.com) – Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto this week delivered a vigorous case for respecting migrants, but immigration experts say his words are at odds with the reality of how Mexico treats migrants fleeing violence in Central America.

Addressing the U.N. Summit for Refugees and Migrants on Monday, Peña Nieto said “Mexicans believe that the mixing of cultures and races is the future and destiny of humanity.”

“Cultures are revitalized and enriched when they live together and talk to each other. Migrants have been the principal partners in this,” he said. “We must put migrants, along with their rights, dignity and well-being in the center of the global dialogue.”

Peña Nieto called for a focus on human rights establishing the obligations of all states towards migrants; recognition of migrants’ contribution to economic and social development; and social inclusion to help eliminate intolerance, prejudice and racism.

Mexico’s actual treatment of migrants, however, is “absolutely dysfunctional,” according to Javier Reyes, an expert on migrants at the Ibero-American University in Mexico City.

Reyes said in an email the president’s words were “narrative without content,” and that migrants entering Mexico “continue to face severe problems,” including extortion, theft, fraud and human trafficking by organized crime.

They are not welcomed by Mexico “under any circumstances.”

Read the rest at CNSNews.com

Related: First UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants Calls All Member States to Protect Them (Global Sisters Report)

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