In the Spanish-speaking community of California prisons, uncertainty reigns over the journey that awaits them once they are deported upon release from prison. In 2018, seven Hispanics with life sentences in the San Quentin State Prison were granted parole (through the Board of Parole Hearings); Six of them, of Mexican nationality, have an order of deportation.Flag of Mexico
On the support the deported receive from Mexican authorities, information is scarce. Eleaazar Cuaei, imprisoned for more than 30 years, comments: “what they have told me is that the Migra leaves you on the bridge; in the pure pass for Mexico. Hence, if one does not have enough money to go to their place of origin, they say that there are many churches that can help.” Manuel Murillo, who was recently transferred to a detention center and later deported, says: “I know and I have been told, is that there is a house in Tijuana called La Casa del Migrante where they give you food, you can make a call and you can stay for the night. But other people have told me that they have already closed that house. “
As with Cuaei and Murillo, many Spanish-speaking prisoners facing future deportation are little or not informed: there is a lot of false information and often that “information” are just rumors. For this reason, San Quentin News contacted the Mexican consulate in San Francisco, California, for reliable and accurate information.
If you are deported by the United States, upon arrival in Mexico, you will be received by personnel from the National Migration Institute (located on the North border and at the Mexico City International Airport). They will welcome you and give you the benefits that “WE ARE MEXICAN -“SOMOS MEXICANOS.”
“SOMOS MEXICANOS” is a strategy of the Mexican government, coordinated by the National Institute of Migration and whose objective is to bring deportees the services and support to facilitate their reintegration into the country. SOMOS MEXICANOS helps all Mexicans who have been repatriated or who plan to return voluntarily.
The repatriated will be received by the National Institute of Migration at the following borders:
Border of Baja California – Tijuana, Mexicali.
Sonora border – San Luis Rio Colorado, Nogales.
Frontera de Chihuahua – CD. Juarez, Ojinaga.
Frontera de Coahuila – CD. Acuna, Piedras Negras.
Border of Tamaulipas – Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Matamoros.
Mexico City Airport.
They will offer you the following benefits:
Proof of repatriation.
Basic food and health services.
Communication (you can talk by phone with your family).
Local transfer and support for foreign transport.
Shelter (if required).
Work options
Financial services (cash deposits, receiving remittances, exchanging currencies and accessing other products such as micro insurance).
Orientation in educational matters.
If you wish to obtain additional support once you arrive at your place of origin, contact “Enlace” of SOMOS MEXICANOS of the National Institute of Migration.
Some of the available supports are:
Recovery of belongings and values
Job vacancies
Energy services
Employment programs
Options to continue with your studies
Telephone numbers of the National Institute of Migration in the different States of Mexico (calling from abroad):
Aguascalientes: 01 52 (449) 918-2464 ext. 210
Baja California: 01 52 (664) 682-3218 / 01 52 (664) 973-0054
Baja California Sur: 01 52 (612) 124-6349
Mexico City: 01 52 (555) 387-2400, exts. 18753 and 18612
Guanajuato: 01 52 (477) 716-9352, ext. 61606
Jalisco: 01 52 (33) 3942-0290, ext. 245 and 219
Michoacán: 01 52 (443) 317-1845, ext. 60711
Nayarit: 01 52 (311) 210-0773 / 213-1720 ext. 200
Nuevo León: 01 52 (81) 8486-1574 to 77 ext. 229
Sinaloa: 01 52 (669) 982-3904 ext. 224
Sonora: 01 52 (631) 312- 1755 ext. 61183
Tamaulipas: 01 52 (867) 712-3147 / 712-8393 / 712-1177 ext. 14439
If you need information or guidance you can find us in the email:
atencionsomosmx@inami.gob.mx