Mexico is introducing a new app to expedite its asylum process, addressing a surge in asylum seekers, despite concerns over a similar app in the US that faced criticism for technical issues and usability.
Andrés Ramírez, the director of Mexico’s refugee assistance agency (COMAR), stated in an interview with CNN that he considers an app essential for effectively managing the significant volume of asylum requests in Mexico City.
“We are facing an overwhelming number of individuals that surpasses our capacity to manage,” stated Ramírez.
Ramírez highlighted that, for the first time in the history of his agency, Mexico City received more asylum applications during the initial 18 days of May than the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, which shares a border with Guatemala.
During that period, Ramírez reported that 3,300 applications were submitted in Mexico City, while Tapachula received 3,000 applications.
The new app, known as the “pre-registration system,” will enable individuals to digitally express their intention to seek asylum, aiming to expedite the processing. The app is scheduled to launch in Mexico City next week, with plans to expand to other regions in the future, as stated by Ramírez.
Asylum-seeker Apps
The US CBP One app has faced criticism from immigrant advocacy groups regarding accessibility barriers for some migrants, including limited resources, inadequate internet access, and language and literacy challenges. Concerns have also been raised about the app’s facial recognition technology and its handling of darker skin.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that the app has performed as intended, with over 79,000 individuals scheduling appointments since its launch in January 2023. CBP recently updated the app to address some of the concerns, including extending eligibility beyond the US-Mexico border to individuals in central Mexico. This move aims to broaden access to the app’s services.
Migrants in Mexico City were seen eating on mats inside a shelter located in the San Luis Tlaxialtemalco Forest on May 26, 2023
Mexico’s asylum software application shares similarities with CBP One, as individuals initiate the process by entering their information online, aiming to expedite processing. However, a significant distinction exists: unlike the CBP One app, the Mexican agency’s app enables individuals to apply from within Mexican territory.
Nevertheless, immigration experts caution against relying on apps in the asylum process.
Kica Matos, President of the National Immigration Law Center, who has observed the use of the CBP One app firsthand, emphasizes, “You shouldn’t have to schedule an appointment when you’re running for your life.”
Matos asserts that the CBP One app is a logistical and humanitarian failure that should not be replicated by Mexico or any other country.
Matos encountered numerous migrants fleeing danger in their home countries, waiting in Mexico under perilous conditions, and many encountered issues such as glitches, facial recognition challenges for individuals with darker skin, and language access barriers.
Meanwhile, aid groups express alarm at the increasingly unsustainable number of migrants residing in limbo as they await their asylum claims in Mexico City.
Jose Antonio Silva, migration project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Mexico City, expresses his organization’s concern regarding the health and living conditions of individuals residing in overcrowded shelters or living on the streets.
Silva highlights the challenges faced by shelters, which rely primarily on their own resources, including overcrowding and the ability to meet various fundamental needs such as healthcare, food, water, hygiene, sanitation, and access to information.
Silva notes that the majority of migrants staying in overcrowded shelters are primarily from Haiti and Venezuela, followed by Mexicans, Central Americans, and a smaller number of individuals from Afghanistan and Angola.
COMAR’s data aligns with Silva’s observations, indicating that the top five nationalities seeking asylum in Mexico during the first four months of the year were Haitian, Honduran, Cuban, Venezuelan, and Salvadoran. Among the top 10 nationalities, Angolan was the only non-Western Hemisphere nationality, as per COMAR data.
Migrants face significant vulnerabilities, including extortion, robbery, physical and verbal aggression, sexual abuse, and discrimination. Silva expresses concerns that sleeping on the streets could further expose them to re-victimization.
According to Ramírez, between January 1 and May 18 of this year, over 56,000 individuals have sought asylum in Mexico. Based on this trend, Ramírez anticipates that his agency will receive an unprecedented 140,000 applications by the end of the year.
Matos emphasizes that seeking asylum is a legal right that should not be contingent on owning a smartphone or using an app. Instead, countries should collaborate to establish equitable and compassionate systems that align with the realities of the 21st century.
By Rosa Flores, CNN
Updated 6:34 PM EDT, Sat June 17, 2023
