UN Criticizes Mexico Over Lack of Justice for Missing and Massacred Migrants

The United Nations (UN) Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers recently pressed the government of Mexico for its efforts, or lack thereof, in the pursuit of justice for missing and massacred migrants.

During the evaluation, the UN committee requested specific information on the actions Mexico has undertaken to investigate human rights violations against migrants, as well as efforts to locate those who have disappeared.

The committee also asked about progress on establishing the Search Committee for Missing Migrants, a mechanism that has been pending for over three years.

Additionally, committee members highlighted the noticeable absence of key Mexican agencies, including the Attorney General's Office (FGR) and the National Migration Institute (INM), during discussions on the matter.

Mexico acknowledged shortcomings in addressing migrant disappearances, noting specifically the need to strengthen transnational justice mechanisms, particularly with El Salvador, to allow migrant families to access justice across borders.

While the exact numbers of migrants who have gone missing and been massacred in Mexico are difficult to obtain, watchdog organizations suggest the situation remains dire. The International Organization for Migration estimates that 5,374 migrants have disappeared or died along migration routes since 2014.

According to official figures cited by the government, between 2019 and 2025, only 53 judicial rulings were made regarding crimes against migrants—43 convictions and 10 acquittals. Additionally, from 2018 to 2023, just 15 convictions were achieved for forced disappearances, though it was unclear whether these cases involved migrants.

With over 124,000 people currently missing across Mexico, per government data, the country's overall struggle to address disappearances has long been scrutinized by international human rights groups.

The UN committee is set to publish its recommendations for Mexico on April 15, Infobae reported.