Mexico - IOM and Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM, by its Spanish acronym) have kicked off a two-week capacity-building training for a group of 36 INM officials to be deployed at migrant holding centers around the country.

The training programme, the second of its kind, aims to professionalize the staff working at migrant holding centers by complementing the experience they already have and by strengthening their strategic migration management skills. A third training is scheduled before the end of the year.

Participants have a variety of backgrounds and work experience and come from Aguascalientes, Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Distrito Federal, Jalisco, Michoacán, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

Based on data from the Department of Migration Policy of the Mexican Ministry of Interior, between January and May 2014, a total of 43,863 migrants were registered in INM’s holding centers throughout the country.  Under the country’s Migration Law, these centers must offer medical services, shelter, food and sanitation, as well as legal services and security.

The 100 hours of training will help participants to gain a deeper understanding of strategic thematic areas including the legal framework for migration and the need to protect vulnerable groups, including victims of human trafficking and kidnapped migrants. 

The aim is to professionalize staff working the migrant holding centers, which will translate into improved protection for migrants, human security and greater respect of their human rights.

Rogelio López Maya, Director of the INM’s Center for Evaluation and Trust Control, said: “At the end of the programme, officials will face the challenges of their work with better skills and with the profound ethical commitment that our professionals need.”

López Maya added that this programme will serve as a platform to promote the establishment of a National Academy for Capacity-Building on Migration operated by INM, guaranteeing sustainability of the skills acquired.

IOM Chief of Mission in Mexico Christopher Gascon highlighted the importance of international and inter-agency collaboration with partners including the National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH), the National System for the Whole Development of the Family (DIF), UNHCR and UNICEF to build Mexico’s migration management capacity.

“This programme prepares officials facing multiple migration challenges at this time and is providing them with the essential tools to protect the most vulnerable migrants,” he said.

For more information, please contact

Claudette Walls
IOM México
Email: cwalls@iom.int
Tel: +52 55 55 36 39 22