UNHCR High Commissioner Barham Salih visits Mexico

Barham Salih, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is conducting an official visit to Mexico from September 26 to 29. The visit aims to evaluate the country’s refugee integration models and strengthen the national asylum system through technical cooperation with the UNHCR.

During his visit, Salih met with officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Interior, and is scheduled to be received by Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada. On September 29, the Senate of the Republic will hold a solemn session in his honor to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Salih has also visited Aguascalientes to observe the integration of refugees into the automotive sector. According to UNHCR data, Mexico has become a significant destination, receiving over 175,000 people seeking international protection over the last decade. Recent statistics indicate that a large portion of asylum seekers in 2025 originated from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, and Honduras.