Mexico To Use Lottery Proceeds to Provide Millions in Assistance To Migrants in U.S.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration has said that one of its priorities since taking office in October 2024 has been providing assistance to migrants.

After U.S. President Donald Trump announced his mass deportation plans in January, Mexico created the program "Mexico Embraces You," an initiative launched by Sheinbaum to support deportees through social programs, free transportation, job opportunities and other services.

As part of that commitment, the Mexican government announced a new assistance mechanism for migrants abroad through a national lottery drawing. Last week, the government said it will allocate 115 million pesos, nearly $6.4 million, for a range of consular services.

The money comes from a Sept. 15 drawing titled "Mexico with an M for Migrant," intended to raise additional funds for consulates in U.S. cities where immigration raids are underway or where detention centers are filling up. More than $18 million in tickets were sold for the drawing, with two-thirds of that amount going toward prizes and administrative costs.

The goal of the program is to secure additional resources to respond to increased demand for consular services, particularly in areas most heavily targeted by immigration raids.

Deputy Foreign Minister for North America Roberto Velasco Alvarez said last week that of the more than $6 million set aside to assist migrants, $2.7 million will be used for immigration legal representation and bail for Mexican nationals, while $1.9 million will go toward legal specialization at high-demand consulates. Just over $500,000 will also be allocated to a program of visits to people held in immigration detention centers across the United States, with the same amount designated to expand emergency protection services.

"Visits are very important because they often represent the first contact we have with our countrymen and countrywomen and also allow us to observe conditions at detention centers and communicate to U.S. authorities any problem or abuse we notice," Velasco said, as noted by Border Report.

One of the main goals of the funds is to strengthen legal representation in immigration and criminal matters.

According to Mexico's Foreign Ministry, the program allows detained Mexican nationals to receive specialized legal counsel and, in some cases, to continue their cases outside of detention through bail approved by U.S. judges.

"The first action we are implementing this week, and I want to recognize our consul in Chicago, has involved working with organizations allied with our consulate to help hundreds of detained people secure release on bail as soon as judges allow it," Velasco said. "It is estimated that with this action, to which we will dedicate $300,000, up to 200 people could be released and continue their immigration proceedings in freedom."

The announcement came as part of International Migrants Day, during which Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez also said that 145,537 repatriations had been carried out this year between Jan. 20 and Dec. 17 with the help of the "Mexico Embraces You" program. She added that 130,364 repatriated people received consular assistance or protection during that span.