Overlooked and Unprotected : Central American Indigenous Migrant Women in Mexico

Amidst the increase in Indigenous migrants fleeing Central America, the Mexican government has chosen to prioritize border enforcement instead of providing adequate protection to migrants. Most vulnerable are Central American Indigenous women, who face a variety of dangers while migrating including human trafficking, kidnapping, forced marriage of minors, extortion, and rape. This article explores alternative approaches to promoting migrant protection and removing barriers to accessing asylum and redress. It finds that the combined efforts of the United States’ Central American Minors program (protecting unaccompanied minor migrants), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (working to expand regional asylum systems in countries including Mexico), Indigenous rights organizations, and other civil society members, are all essential to protecting vulnerable migrant women.