Mexico: Asylum Elusive for Migrant Children

Central American children fleeing serious threats face formidable obstacles in applying for asylum in Mexico.

Human Rights Watch has documented wide discrepancies between Mexican law and practice. By law, Mexico offers protection to those who face risks to their lives or safety if returned to their countries of origin. But less than 1 percent of children who are apprehended by Mexican immigration authorities are recognized as refugees, according to Mexican government data.