Migrant disappearances in Mexico quadrupled in 2021, foreigners near tripled

The number of reported missing migrants in Mexico in 2021 increased fourfold compared to 2020, a new report released by the human rights organization Jesuits’ Missing Migrants Search Program (SJM) on Wednesday shows.

Last year, there were 89 reported cases of missing migrants. However, the number of missing foreigners in 2021 grew by 292% to 349 cases.

The report also claims that 44% of the missing migrants in 2021 were between 18 and 29 years old, 42% were between 30 and 59, and 14% were underaged.

Out of the migrants that have been reported missing but are later found, 75% were found in immigration detention centers or temporary housing.

SJM said that the numbers in their report are under-estimated and that the actual number might be larger. However, many missing migrants are not reported and there is a lack of public information on behalf of public agencies.

Many times, migrants could be found in government detention centers, but they have no way of letting their family members know where they are.

“Policies aimed at disrupting migration flows have increased cases of detention and of (the migrants) not being able to communicate, and consequently the number of disappearances reported by relatives have increased," said Adrian Estrada, SJM's coordinator for migrant assistance in Mexico City.

Thousands of people make their way through Mexico every year, hoping to reach the United States and live a better life. However, along their journey, many of these migrants are subjected to kidnappings, crimes, and even murder, Reuters reported.

"There are places where drug cartels lie in wait for migrants to pull them into their ranks," said Luis Macias, director of SJM in Mexico.