In the meetings that Enrique Peña Nieto and Felipe Calderón held, about the transition of government that will soon happen in Mexico, one of the most important topics that were talked about was about immigration.

In an interview with the newspaper Milenio, Arturo Valdivia who is the coordinator on immigration matters on Peña Nieto’s team, revealed some measures that could change the entire structure on this matter, including the creation of a Mexican border patrol.

It is very well known that the majority of the immigrants that get to the U.S., get there through the border that divides it with Mexico.

According to the statistics presented by Valdivia, each year 400,000 illegal immigrants get to Mexico, which 70,000 make it into the U.S and another 80,000 return to their country of origin.

Those who remain in Mexico, become targets of crimes like human trafficking, which the media has released several reports of massacres that the these immigrant have become victims of, due to the heavy presence of organized crime in several states, and immigrants also tend to create a poverty belt in the northern states.

Unfortunately those who look into residing legally in Mexico the process is long and difficult, which currently it is being handled by the National Migration Institute of Mexico.

Peña Nieto’s team has also proposed the modernization of the border in the southern part of Mexico, and proposed to create a virtual type of consulate that would be operating 24 hours a day to streamline procedures.

Mexico is one of the countries with a very high migration flow in the international level, and currently the system in place is about 40 years old, and the authorities are insufficient.

It is estimated that the 35 million immigrants who are able to settle in their new destinations abroad, are able to demonstrate and increase the awareness of treatment and respect of all human rights of the immigrants.

A common critic is that if Mexico has demanded better treatment for its immigrants, those who enter the country illegally should do the same as well.

Statistics show that after Mexicans, the next highest U.S. deportation rate is by Guatemalans, which has set off and alarm with the president of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina, who in the Summit of the Americas dealt with this topic with President Barack Obama.

For now the measures proposed by Valdivia are only that, proposals.

If these become a reality if would add a lot of support for a safer border south of Mexico, which at the same time would benefit the United States and change the whole panorama on this issue.

Brenda.Colon@sandiegored.com

Translation : Omar.Martinez@sandiegored.com