Texas Border Business
Since the beginning of the new U.S. administration, the Government of Mexico has promoted the continuation of the DACA program in order to maintain protections for hundreds of thousands of young beneficiaries of the program, the majority of whom were born in Mexico.
The Government of Mexico has invariably stated that the young people who are part of the DACA program, also known as Dreamers, make significant daily contributions to the economy, culture and society of the country to which they arrived as children. Just a few days ago, in his annual message to the nation, President Enrique Peña Nieto reiterated to the Dreamers his recognition, admiration and unreserved solidarity. Accordingly, the Government of Mexico regrets the decision announced today to end DACA and expresses its profound worry about the uncertainty that thousands of young people born in Mexico will now face.
Undoubtedly, the immigration policy of the United States of America is exclusively determined by Americans and their institutions. However, our country cannot ignore the fact that thousands of young people born in Mexico will be potentially affected by the decision announced today. Faced with this situation, the Government of Mexico has a moral imperative to act through diplomatic means, and always in strict accordance with the law, with the executive and legislative branches of the United States Government to actively promote a quick solution to the legal uncertainty that participants in the DACA program now face.
Accordingly, the Ambassador of Mexico in Washington, D.C., Gerónimo Gutiérrez, has sent letter to senators and members of congress on behalf of the Mexican government, to explain the value of DACA participants to U.S. society and exhorting them to find a quick and permanent solution that will provide those participants with legal certainty. The Government of Mexico will sustain a continuous dialogue with the legislative branch in the United States to support such a solution. At the same time, we have established contact with officials in the Department of Homeland Security in order to understand every detail of the implementation process of the measures announced today.
Moreover, the Government of Mexico has an obligation to protect young Dreamers born in our country. As a result, the Foreign Ministry, through the embassy and the consular network in the United States, will double its efforts to guarantee the broadest consular protection for
those affected by these measures. The Government of Mexico will provide consular assistance to all Dreamers who request it, particularly in terms of legal representation.
Finally, we reiterate that Mexico will receive Dreamers who return to our country with open arms. In accordance with instructions from President Enrique Peña Nieto, the agencies of the federal government are strengthening their efforts to offer them the greatest support, take advantage of their talents and skills, and fully integrate them into our society and national economy.
We will undertake the following specific actions and programs, in addition to those we already conduct through the Somos Mexicanos program:
• A special job bank for Dreamers in Mexico, available through the consulates;
• A Youth Credit Program for Dreamers in the United States and Mexico;
• Scholarship offers in Mexico and other countries;
• Access to education with unnecessary paperwork and with immediate accreditation; and
• Social Security Enrollment.
Mexico calls on the Mexican Community in the United States to stay informed through official sources. We invite individuals to report any abuses or irregularities to their consulate in order to avoid becoming victims of fraud. They may also call the Center for Information and Assistance for Mexicans (CIAM), which operates toll free, 24 hours per day, every day of the week (1 855 4636 395); and to download the free smartphone application MiConsulmex, which contains an emergency button to contact the consulate.
