The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly denounced the implementation of Texas law SB4, condemning its intent to criminalize migrants and its potential to exacerbate the separation of families, discrimination, and racial profiling, which are clear violations of the human rights of migrant communities.
Since the inception of the law’s debate in the Texas legislature last year, Mexico has vehemently opposed any measures empowering state or local authorities to enforce immigration control and apprehend and repatriate individuals, whether they are Mexican nationals or foreigners, to Mexican territory.
Moreover, Mexico expresses concern over legal provisions that could adversely affect the human rights of over 10 million people of Mexican descent residing in Texas, fostering environments of hostility characterized by hate speech, discrimination, and racial profiling against migrant communities.
Asserting its sovereign right to safeguard the interests of its nationals in the United States, Mexico emphasizes the importance of a cohesive migration policy and bilateral efforts with the United States to ensure the safety, orderliness, and respect for human rights in migration processes. Mexico firmly rejects any infringement upon these principles by state or local legislative actions, explicitly rejecting repatriations by the State of Texas under any circumstances.
In a proactive step to protect the interests of Mexico and its nationals amidst this legal challenge, the Mexican government announces its intention to submit an amicus curiae brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, Louisiana. This filing aims to provide crucial insights into the potential impact of SB4 on the Mexican and Mexican-American communities and its broader implications for Mexico-U.S. relations.
Mexico has a longstanding history of actively participating as a friend of the court in legal battles against anti-immigrant legislation, such as Arizona SB1070 in 2010, Alabama HB56 in 2011, and Texas SB4 in 2017.
Furthermore, as part of its consular assistance and protection strategy in response to this legislation, Mexico held a meeting in November 2023 with consuls responsible for protection in Texas to coordinate preemptive actions in anticipation of the law’s enactment. Similar gatherings were convened in January and February involving the heads of Mexico’s consulates in Texas, known collectively as TEXCOCO.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms its commitment to delivering timely, compassionate, and dignified consular assistance and protection to all Mexicans residing in Texas through its 11 representations across the state, complemented by the Consulate in Albuquerque, which also serves counties in Texas.