Mexico: More than 70,000 migrants were kidnapped or trafficked between 2011 and 2020

At least 70,000 migrants were "victims of trafficking and kidnapping in Mexico" between Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2020, a report from the Mexican National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) revealed.

"The states with the most cases of kidnapping (...) are Chiapas, Nuevo León, Tabasco, Veracruz and Tamaulipas," the CNDH reported.

The report also highlights that operations against human trafficking "have increased an average of 600%," and the most affected individuals are citizens of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Cuba.

The CNDH also warned that Mexico does not have protocols in place to coordinate the prevention, investigation or punishment of trafficking and kidnapping of migrants – nor can it provide assistance, protection or security measures to help protect victims.

The special report includes 13 general and 44 specific proposals for the Mexican authorities to fight trafficking of migrants. One notable proposal was directed to the National Migration Institute (INM) and calls for measures to be adopted to facilitate the entry and transit of migrants on a regular basis. According to the report, such a measure would prevent undocumented migrants from having to use clandestine networks, thus reducing the risk of trafficking and violence.

The report was written with the assistance of various security and immigration focused institutions, along with the input of human rights agencies. It also reflects the results of surveys carried out at 48 different immigration stations.

The report is based on consultations with security and migration institutions, as well as with DDHH agencies. It also takes into account the results of surveys carried out in 48 migration stations.

In February 2020, testimonies collected by CNDH officials were published and it was revealed that the agency was aware of the serious human rights violations suffered by migrants as they passed through Mexico.