Mexicans are divided on the need for stricter immigration policiesamid a large influx of foreigners crossing their country to the border with the United States, according to a new survey.
About 41% of respondents want Mexico to take a more restrictive stance on migration, while 40% favor more open policies, according to LatAm Pulse, a survey conducted by AtlasIntel for Bloomberg News. This makes for a harsh comparison with Argentina, Colombia and Chile, where the vast majority of the population believes that stricter policies are needed.
Particularly in Chile, 96% of respondents said a more restrictive policy is needed.
The relationship of Mexicans with migration has been changing in recent years. Mexico is both the main country of origin and the main transit route for migrants seeking to enter the US, but more recently it has also become a final destination for some new arrivals.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has said that her administration, like that of her predecessor, aims to address the root causes of migration by boosting economic development, and that the U.S. It should help the development of the poorest countries to prevent people from leaving their homes.
When asked to identify their top three concerns for Mexico, 57% of respondents pointed to corruption. Inflation was cited by 37% of them, followed by insecurity and crime, with 35%.
AtlasIntel surveyed 1,803 people in Mexico from October 10 to 15. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.
