Diplomat: A significant number of Ukrainians attempted to illegally cross the Mexican-American border.

The problem of illegal border crossing also concerns Ukrainians

Ukraine's ambassador to Mexico, Oksana Dramaraetska, reported that the issue of illegal border crossing between Mexico and the USA also affects Ukrainians. She noted that this situation has been observed both before and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Most Ukrainians in Mexico are relatives of Mexicans. There is no classic Ukrainian diaspora here. The only exceptions are Ukrainians who have Mexican citizenship.

Ukrainians' issues with Mexico's migration service

The diplomat noted that a large number of Ukrainians receive rejections from Mexico's migration service. This is a problem that also concerns other citizens. The reason is the integration of Mexico's and the USA's migration systems. If Mexican authorities receive information about problems faced by Ukrainians with the US migration services, they may deny entry to Mexico.

One of the main reasons for refusal to cross the border is the lack of a return ticket and insufficient information about their place of residence in Mexico. Foreigners who cannot answer the migration officer's questions are entitled to be denied crossing the border.

Dialogue with Mexico's migration authorities

The Ukrainian embassy is trying to maintain constant dialogue with Mexico's migration authorities. In the case of Ukrainians being detained upon entering Mexico, the embassy provides assistance.

In 2024, two cases of problems faced by Ukrainians upon entering Mexico were recorded. However, the actual number may be higher, as many people avoid contacting the embassy.

Communication issues and illegal border crossing

The ambassador noted that foreigners often cannot contact the embassy in case of problems due to many migration officers in Mexico not knowing Spanish. This is often a reason for denial of crossing the border. Most commonly, the refusal is due to the foreigner's inability to answer the migration officer's questions.

View on the Mexican-American border

During negotiations with the Mexican side, the ambassador emphasizes that tourists visiting Mexico do not need to remember all the details about their stay. However, it is acknowledged that there are cases where Ukrainians arrive in Mexico with the intention of illegally crossing the border into the USA.

Ukraine and Mexico regarding illegal immigrants

US President Donald Trump wishes to see Mexico as a 'safe country' where they can deport illegal immigrants. However, the Mexican government has stated that they are only willing to accept their own citizens.