Press Release
Contact:
Daniella Burgi-Palomino
(202) 546 7010 | dburgipalomino@lawg.org
September 14, 2018
LAWG Joins Int’l NGOs in Opposing U.S. Plans to Fund Deportations in Mexico & Bilateral Negotiations on Safe Third Country Agreement, Urges Governments to Abandon Plans
Washington D.C.–Today, the Latin America Working Group (LAWG) joined NGOs from the United States and Mexico in opposing reported U.S. plans to fund Mexico for the deportations of non-Mexican migrants, as well as bilateral negotiations around a safe third country agreement. The news of this funding plan comes after months of ongoing discussions between the two governments to implement a bilateral safe third country agreement, which would effectively prevent anyone who traveled through Mexico from claiming asylum in the United States and require they go back to Mexico to seek international protection.
“The Administration’s efforts to terminate protections for migrants and refugees knows no bounds. On top of their ceaseless efforts to turn away asylum seekers at our own border, they are now attempting to outsource their immigration enforcement to Mexico. This new plan would result in thousands of Central American migrants being forcibly returned to danger without access to protection. Mexico should reject any agreement or funding to carry out the United States’ dirty work,” states Daniella Burgi-Palomino, LAWG Senior Associate for Mexico, Migrant Rights and Border Issues.
The NGO statement reads:
“We strongly urge the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to abandon the plan to fund the Mexican government for the deportations of migrants and potential asylum seekers to their home countries. In addition, we urge both governments to abandon negotiations around a safe third country agreement and we call on the incoming Mexican government to express its opposition to such plans. Both countries should uphold their international and moral obligations to migrants, refugees, respecting due process, family unity and the right to seek protection in the country they deem safe.”
