Deported Mexicans Flock to Quintana Roo as Support Services Strain

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo has become one of the main arrival points for Mexicans deported from the United States, with Tulum International Airport serving as a key gateway, according to a nonprofit that assists returnees.

Marilyn Torres Leal, president of CISVAC Fundación A.C., said roughly 70 percent of deportees arriving by air are being channeled into Quintana Roo. Some head to Cancún after landing in the state and then look for transportation to other parts of Mexico.

Many Arrive Without Money or Documents

One of the biggest problems is a lack of resources. Deportees receive a card loaded with 2,000 pesos to help cover their travel, but about 80 percent of recently handled cases had no money available on it, Torres Leal said.

“You arrive completely disoriented, literally,” she said of people who return after spending years in the United States.

Some also come back without valid documents, forcing them to track down relatives or decide where they will go next.

Nearly 1,840 People Assisted This Year

CISVAC has assisted about 1,840 people so far this year, most of them Mexican nationals. The organization helps them obtain documents such as the CURP, Mexico’s national population registry code, and offers guidance on other paperwork and on options for returning to their home states. It also provides job-search assistance.

Torres Leal said resolving their documentation is one of the biggest challenges, since the lack of valid papers can complicate both travel and the search for formal employment.

Some May Stay in Quintana Roo

She estimated that about 20 percent of the deportees the group assists could end up staying in Quintana Roo, drawn by job opportunities in the tourism industry. The shortage of documents remains an obstacle to entering the formal labor market, however, and some who initially planned to return home may consider settling in the state instead.

Large Groups Arriving

Torres Leal said recent weeks have brought sizeable arrivals of deported Mexicans, including a group of about 300 people four weeks ago. Groups of 60 to 80 people have arrived in the weeks since. The influx poses a challenge for organizations that provide guidance and support to returnees.

Plans for a Migrant Shelter

CISVAC is pushing a project to set up a home for migrants in Quintana Roo. The first phase would require an investment of about 6 million pesos, and the facility would be able to serve more than 400 people.

The project aims to offer guidance and support to Mexicans arriving in the state, help them resolve their documentation and assist those seeking to travel to other states or remain in Quintana Roo.