50,000 jobs, social programs, and medical centers: Mexico’s response to Trump’s deportation threats

Mexico prepares to support its deported citizens through comprehensive programs while navigating ongoing political challenges.

February 03, 2025 by Tallis Boerne Marcus
Preparing an attention center for Mexico returnees in Conagua. Photo: Efraín Morales López / X

As the Trump administration intensifies its threats of mass deportations, Latin American nations are bracing for the impact. Mexico’s response, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has largely flown under the radar, despite its measured and humanitarian-focused approach. While the Mexican government has made it clear that there’s no need to panic just yet, Sheinbaum’s administration is well-prepared to face the challenges ahead.

Mexico’s approach to mass deportations

In the week from January 20-26, there were 4,094 people deported to Mexico, the vast majority Mexican. However, Sheinbaum made it clear this number alone isn’t out-of-the-ordinary. “[These deportations happened] With the arrival of President Trump, but if we take it week by week, this is a number that we’ve had on other occasions in our country.”

Mexico received an average of 3,485 deportees per week in 2024, meaning the January number isn’t far above last year’s average.

Though, with Trump threatening to increase these numbers, Sheinbaum has already developed and begun implementing an extensive and humanitarian-focused program to support those who are suffer from Trump’s deportation plan.

Mexico’s Secretary of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodriguez makes it clear that Mexico is happily willing to take its compatriots back, also making the point that many will be returning to a very different Mexico than the one they left.

“The Government of Mexico is ready to welcome you with open arms. The country they left is different from the one we are building, today it is more fair and equal. For us, repatriation is a return to home, to our roots, to our culture, and to the brotherhood that unites us.”

It should be noted that Trump’s actions aren’t occurring at the peak of immigration from Mexico to the US.

According to Pew Research data from 2022, the latest available numbers, an estimated four million Mexicans were living undocumented in the US, compared to 6.9 million in 2007. Furthermore, it’s possible that the 2022 figure was inflated by the pandemic, as migrant encounters on the Mexican/US border were dramatically falling throughout 2024. December 2024 was the month with the lowest per-day average of apprehended migrants at the border for the whole of Biden’s presidency.

Furthermore, Mexico’s percentage share of migrants crossing at the US/Mexico border has greatly decreased, from 90% in 2003, to 64% in 2013, down to just 29% in 2023.

Inside Mexico’s migrant attention centers

As part of its plan for those deported, called, “Mexico embraces you,” Mexico will build 10 attention centers for migrants, each with a capacity for 2,500 people, meaning the centers can accommodate a total of 25,000 migrants at a time.

However, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, makes it clear that the centers can quickly be made larger or smaller to adapt to the unpredictability of Trump’s deportations.

“They can grow or they can be made smaller. We are prepared for any scenario.”

Furthermore, there are 189 buses available to transport people from the border repatriation points directly to the migrant shelters.

The migrants will have access to a range of services that allow them to have food and shelter, connect with loved ones, pay for immediate expenses, and re-establish themselves as Mexican citizens.

Each migrant entering the attention centers will have access to:

  • Three meals a day and drinking water
  • Phone charging stations
  • A secure and safe place to sleep
  • Contact with Mexican social security services
  • Issuance of official documents
  • Education on Mexico’s social programs and work and education opportunities
  • Medical and health services
  • Phone services
  • Local transport
  • 2000 pesos (USD 100) on a prepaid debit card

These measures are done with the intention of allowing a smooth and safe reintegration into Mexican life for those who are forced back across the border.

Here you can take a look inside the centers.

The reporter describes: “The living areas are divided between the women’s area, the men’s area and the family area, there are showers, there will be air conditioning, a dining room with three meals a day, there are all the services so that people can even process some documents such as the INE (Mexican identification) or their birth certificate and so that they can recover their Mexican identity.

“There will also be medical services, there will be a pharmacy, everything is ready so that people can return with dignity to our country.”

50,000 possible employment opportunities waiting for Mexican returnees

Representatives from Mexico’s private sector gathered and met with Rosa Icela Rodriguez, where it was confirmed that the business community will be able to offer up to 50,000 employment opportunities for migrants re-entering Mexico.

The Business Coordinating Council (CCE), spearheaded by Roberto Campa, head of corporate affairs at FEMSA, explained how the council will support the initiative.

“If at least one in every 20 establishments employed one new person, we could hire 50,000 people. That is equivalent to hiring a quarter of all repatriations that occurred in 2024.

“That is why we are here and in this historic room to endorse from the CCE and the companies, the commitment to promote this project that aims to strengthen the coordination of private sector companies with the government of Mexico, with the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum.”

From February 10, there will be a weekly report on the number of migrants that have been placed in jobs, including the specific jobs they have been given.

Mexico’s stance against US pressure

Analysts have highlighted that a key issue facing Mexico will be remaining firm in the face of US pressure to accept migration policies beneficial only to the US.

Trump installed the “Migrant Protection Protocols”; or “Remain in Mexico” policy in 2019, which allowed for the US to deport some asylum seekers to Mexico, even non-Mexican nationals. The Mexican government outlined its intention to ensure migrant rights throughout this program.

Trump’s policy led to at least 636 deported asylum seekers being victims of violent crime in Mexico.

After Biden removed the program, but then insinuated its possible return, it came as no surprise that Mexico firmly rejected the suggestion.

While the López Obrador administration had agreed to the “Remain in Mexico” policy, it rejected the US proposal to make Mexico a ‘safe third country’, meaning asylum seekers would have to first seek asylum in Mexico, before being able to request asylum to the United States.

Political journalist and analyst Kurt Hackbarth said on the program Sin Muros, that Mexico shouldn’t do the United States’ “dirty work”.

“Mexico has not agreed to be a safe third country where people have to seek asylum, but the US wants Mexico to accept this,” Hackbarth commented.

“Trump wants Mexico to do its dirty work of deporting or repatriating people to other countries. In particular, countries with which the US does not have diplomatic relationships, such as Cuba, Venezuela.”

On the same program, political journalist and analyst José Luis Granados Ceja made the point that Mexico’s stand to US pressures will also affect other countries’ bargaining power against the US.

“I’m very worried because yes, Mexico has to be very firm. Because if they aren’t, they will weaken the possibility of negotiating for countries like Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.”

For example, a country like Venezuela could negotiate that it will only help with deportations in exchange for reduced sanctions or other improvements in its diplomatic relationship with the United States.

Early signs appear to show Mexico staying firm in its relations with the US, having previously rejected a deportation flight. While the reason wasn’t confirmed, it’s been speculated that it’s because it was a military plane, rather than a government-chartered flight, like the other accepted flights so far.

This would be in keeping with Mexico’s strict stance against any military intervention from the United States. Members of Congress from Mexico and the United States recently signed a joint letter “United Against the Invasion,” outlining the importance of avoiding any military intervention.

Other humanitarian highlights

The Mexican community has been coming together to show solidarity to its fellow-country members as they face threats to their current lives in the United States. Here are just a few examples:

  • Here US Congressman and Mexican-American Joaquin Castro stands up for Mexicans. He says: “I’d like to remind Donald Trump that the United States became the most powerful, prosperous nation on earth, not in spite of immigrants, but because of them.”
  • Doctors have been flown in from other parts of Mexico to supervise the comprehensive medical care facilities for arriving migrants.
  • The governor of Tamaulipas, Americo Villarreal Anaya, visited one of the centers in his state and delivered an ambulance to service migrants.
  • Football Club Juarez officially announced that their car park would be the location of a migrant center.

The gestures of solidarity from Mexicans and Mexican-Americans demonstrate a deep sense of unity, resilience, and commitment to supporting those impacted by mass deportations.

Challenges ahead: tariffs, threats, and uncertainty

Although Mexico is prepared to repatriate a massive number of its citizens upon their forced return, its challenges with the new Trump administration are only beginning.

Trump’s promised 25% tariff on Mexican products was set to take effect on Tuesday. However, during a phone call with the US president on February 3, Sheinbaum successfully negotiated a one-month postponement. This key victory indicates that the Mexican government is capable of defending its strategic interests, even in the face of external threats and pressure.

As Mexico navigates the complexities of mass deportations and its relationship with the new Trump administration, its actions consistently underscore the nation’s unwavering commitment to its dignity and sovereignty.

Tallis Boerne Marcus is an Australian journalist currently based in Mexico City.