The National Migration Institute, in partnership with the UN International Organization for Migration, launched an initiative aimed at reforming immigration and border management with a gender perspective, signaling a progressive shift in migration policy.

The National Migration Institute has appointed Sergio Salomón Céspedes Peregrina as its new director. Experts note that his leadership could mark a shift from previous corruption and human rights abuses within the institute, provided he includes civil society in reform efforts. This move arrives amid broader regional tensions and a renewed focus on migration policy, especially in light of the upcoming second term of Donald Trump in the US.

The National Migration Institute is undergoing a major reform under Claudia Sheinbaum's administration. The overhaul includes establishing independent oversight, instituting anonymous corruption reporting mechanisms, prioritizing human rights through improved staff training and the transformation of migrant stations, and modernizing technological systems to increase transparency and efficiency amid mounting pressures from external deportation policies.

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a comprehensive reform of the National Migration Institute aimed at transforming its mandate from a punitive immigration control body into an institution that supports human mobility. The reform includes a transitional period under the interim leadership of Sergio Salomón and comes amid severe criticism of past abuses and a criminal investigation involving the previous head.

A recent report highlights a 200% increase in complaints against Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) for alleged human rights abuses, including neglect and extortion in migrant detention centers, while its head, Francisco Garduño, remains in power despite legal proceedings.

Investigations reveal that during a March 28, 2023 fire at a migrant detention center managed by the National Migration Institute (INM), critical safety failures and irregular management practices contributed to the deaths of several migrants. Reports detail that officials manipulated cell access, safety equipment was allegedly misreported, and overall mismanagement created a deadly environment.

Following the 2023 fire at the Ciudad Juárez detention center that resulted in 40 migrant deaths, the National Migration Institute (INM) has come under fire for its management practices. The head of INM, Francisco Garduño, remains in his post despite accusations of neglect, a prolonged freeze on legal proceedings, and broader systemic failures in ensuring safe conditions for detained migrants.

Multiple tragic incidents between 2010 and 2021, including massacres, mutilation cases, and mass abductions of migrants, have raised serious concerns about the lack of accountability and systemic failures within the National Migration Institute. The repeated pattern of impunity and the continuing presence of high-level officials despite evidence of gross negligence contribute to a narrative of authoritarian mismanagement.