Rethinking the space of the migrant shelter in Mexico: humanitarian and security implications in the practices of bordering

ABSTRACT

Using a critical border, feminist perspective, this article analyzes the role of the migrant shelter as a practitioner community actively involved in the dialogue of borders and directly affected by the restrictive border policies that are implemented against ‘unauthorized’ migrants in the name of national security. Based on field research carried out in Mexico, this article examines how borders affect the shelters used by ‘transit’ migrants. Specifically, since the Programa Frontera Sur [Southern Border Plan] policy was implemented in Mexico in the summer of 2014, migrant shelters have taken a more engaged role with respect to protection and assistance for ‘unauthorized’ migrants. Within this migratory context, temporary migrant shelters are transforming into more permanent spaces. At the same time, however, despite good intentions, migrants continue to face particular challenges in migrant shelters with respect to constraining rules, which sheds light on the power relations at play in these spaces of migration.

KEYWORDS:

• Migrants
• migrant shelters
• Central America
• Mexico
• security
• borders

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. La Bestia or the Beast is a cargo freight train, which has multiple routes that travel north through Mexico. Migrants with a lack of monetary funds to travel north board this train and use it as a mode of transportation. The train has been dubbed La Bestia because it is a very dangerous form of transportation for migrants who can fall off and die or be amputated.