The State University of Haiti (UEH) hosted, on Friday April 24, 2026, the Mexican ambassador José de Jesús Cisneros Chávez as part of its lecture series. During this intervention, the diplomat addressed his audience on “migration policies and dynamics in the Americas.”
Before an audience composed of students from different UEH entities, professors, members of the Executive Council and representatives of civil society organizations, the ambassador delivered his lecture.
In his presentation, Mr. Cisneros outlined migration policies and dynamics in the Americas from a “Mexican perspective.” From the outset, he emphasized that migration in the region is a political, economic and social issue, insisting that it is above all a “structural phenomenon” rooted in development dynamics, inequalities and regional integration.
The Mexican ambassador proposed understanding migration through the major transformations affecting the region. He noted that in some cases, transit countries tend to become destination countries. In this context, he stated that Mexico has become a space for reconfiguring migration projects, where migration is now a “cumulative process of successive decisions rather than a single project.”
To illustrate these changes, Mr. Cisneros referred to Haitian migrants in Mexico. Initially in transit after leaving several South or Central American countries, many Haitian migrants have abandoned the idea of reaching the United States and have settled in Mexico. According to the figures cited, 46% of migrants in Mexico now consider it their final destination, compared to 24% previously.
He also mentioned the difficulties faced by migrants, including economic hardship, language barriers, limited access to basic services and psychological impacts. In response, the Mexican government has implemented several policies, including relocation and integration programs, Spanish courses and support mechanisms. “Between 2020 and 2024, Mexico received more than 128,000 asylum applications from Haitians,” he stated, estimating that nearly 100,000 Haitians currently live in Mexico.
