Mexico Offers Escorted Bus Services to U.S. Border for Immigrants with Asylum Appointments
Maria Herrera Mellado 
Mexico will offer escorted bus trips from the southern part of the country to the U.S. border for non-Mexican migrants who have an appointment to apply for asylum there, the government announced on Saturday.
The National Migration Institute (INM) stated that the buses will depart from the southern cities of Villahermosa and Tapachula.
This appears to be an attempt to make scheduling appointments from southern Mexico to seek asylum in the United States more attractive to migrants, who might otherwise travel north to Mexico City or the border.
The announcement came a week after Washington authorized access to the CBP One app in southern Mexico. Previously, access to the app—which allows asylum seekers to register and await an appointment—had been restricted to the northern and central regions of the country.
The Mexican government wants more migrants to wait in southern Mexico, away from the U.S. border. Migrants often complain that there is little work available in southern Mexico, which can lead to a months-long wait. Many have debts and feel pressured to work.
Migrants who take advantage of the bus service will also receive a permit to legally travel through Mexico for 20 days, the institute said in a statement. Previously, Mexican authorities said they would respect migrants who could show they had an appointment at the border to request asylum. However, some migrants reported being picked up at checkpoints and sent back south, causing them to miss their appointments.
Local, state, and federal law enforcement officers will provide security for the buses, and food will be provided during the journey, the institute noted.
The bus trips could also help deter some migrants from making the arduous journey north on foot. Three migrants lost their lives, and 17 were injured this week when a vehicle hit them on a highway in the southern state of Oaxaca.
Mexico had pressed the U.S. to expand access to CBP One, in part to alleviate the buildup of migrants in Mexico City. Last year, many migrants chose to wait in the Mexican capital for their appointment dates.
In his final government report, Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated, «We established the Financial Institution for Wellbeing, which provides small loans and facilitates the delivery of remittances to the families of migrants, charging fair commissions.»
Source: Information from AP in Mexico City
María Herrera Mellado es una abogada de EE.UU. y licenciada en España. Doctora en Ciencias Jurídicas y Analista política. La Dra. Herrera es conocida por su amplia experiencia en análisis y consultas en el diseño de políticas públicas, propuestas de ley y gestión en relaciones internacionales.
Su reconocimiento proviene de sus contribuciones al análisis y representación legal de diversas organizaciones, empresas e individuos que han visto abusados sus derechos humanos, su privacidad o en la inclusión de políticas efectivas fundamentalmente en el ámbito de la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas, así como la lucha contra la corrupción.
Su formación académica y experiencias profesionales la convierten en una voz respetada en el debate público y en el análisis de temas de actualidad sobre todo en los desafíos políticos y legales contemporáneos.
María Herrera Mellado is a U.S.-based attorney also licensed in Spain. She holds a PhD in Legal Sciences and is known as a media legal and policy analyst.
Dr. Herrera is recognized for her extensive experience in analyzing and consulting on public policy design, legislative proposals, and international relations management.
Her recognition stems from her contributions to the analysis and legal representation of various organizations, companies, and individuals whose human rights or privacy have been violated, or who have benefited from the inclusion of effective policies, primarily in the areas of transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption.
Her academic background and professional experience make her a respected voice in public debate and in the analysis of current issues, particularly in contemporary political and legal challenges.