Mexican immigration authorities have suspended deportation flights for Cubans irregularly detained in Aztec territory until further notice.
The information was shared by the independent media 14 intervenewhich he confirmed with a source close to the National Migration Institute (INM).
The aforementioned media points out that deportation flights to Cuba have a cost of $237 for each of the migrants returned to the Island, and that, so far this year, several operations have been carried out through Viva Aerobus airlines. and Magnicharters, in which 789 people have been returned, something that would cost about $187,000.
The source consulted by the aforementioned media emphasizes that the INM does not have a list of migrants about to be deported, and that a flight that was scheduled for last November 16 was canceled.
Although cost is a factor to consider, it must be taken into account that the stoppage occurs only a week after a Cuban migrant died while in the custody of the INM.
According to Mexican authorities, the Cuban, later identified as Luis Enrique Méndez, died after having “requested” an assisted return to the Island.
Deportations carried out in Mexico are treated as “assisted returns,” since migrants are made to sign a document stating that they wish to return to the Island of their own free will. However, statements made in the past suggest that Cubans are tricked into signing this document, since they are not told that they are being taken to Havana.
In that sense, it is unknown whether the deceased Cuban had actually signed one of these petitions or was tricked into doing so shortly before his death.
In this regard, lawyer José Luis Pérez criticized the practice, stating that it demonstrated a discrepancy between the actions of the INM and the policies of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
The jurist considers that these returns are not voluntary as the INM says, which is why he questions how legitimate these processes are. One of the most reprehensible points for the expert is that the migrants do not have legal assistance throughout the process, and that they are denied the possibility of requesting asylum.
