Mexico Reaffirms a Human-Centered Migration Approach on International Migrants Day
On International Migrants Day, Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM) underscored its commitment to a migration policy grounded in human dignity and respect for human rights—recognizing migration not only as a regulatory challenge, but as a deeply human reality shaping families, communities, and nations across the region.
Observed annually on December 18, International Migrants Day commemorates the United Nations convention protecting the rights of migrant workers and their families. In marking the date, Mexican authorities highlighted key milestones under the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum, pointing to a migration strategy that seeks to balance order, protection, and humanity.
Since the start of the current administration, the INM has issued more than 254,000 valid migration documents to foreign nationals, reflecting ongoing efforts to expand legal pathways and provide stability for those building lives in Mexico. Government records also show that over 1.18 million foreign nationals have settled in the country between 2010 and December 2025—more than half of them women—illustrating how migration to Mexico has increasingly become long-term, rooted, and community-based.
The update also focused on Mexican families returning home during the holiday season. Through the Heroínas y Héroes Paisanos Program, the INM has delivered nearly 464,000 assistance services since late November, offering guidance, protection, and support to returning migrants navigating one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
On December 17 alone, authorities recorded the arrival of more than 5,200 vehicles and over 20,000 people as part of the Migrant Caravan 2025, which traveled from Laredo, Texas, to communities across Mexico. Coordinated efforts among federal, state, and municipal authorities helped ensure safer passage, information, and accompaniment along the route.
Together, these figures offer a snapshot of a migration landscape in motion—one shaped by return, settlement, and transit. As Mexico continues to play a central role in regional migration dynamics, the INM reiterated its commitment to policies that prioritize safety, dignity, and human rights, especially at a moment when mobility across the Americas remains driven by inequality, violence, climate pressures, and the search for opportunity.