Particle.news
Download on the App Store

UNHCR: Violence Drives Migration as Mexico Overtakes U.S. as Primary Destination

Preliminary 2025 monitoring by UNHCR in high‑flow Mexican cities points to heightened protection needs.

Overview

  • UNHCR reports that 61% of surveyed irregular entrants left due to violence, threats or intimidation, and 80% said they would face danger if returned.
  • Two‑thirds of respondents (66%) now name Mexico as their intended destination versus 31% for the United States, reversing last year’s pattern.
  • In northern Mexico, 58% reported being crime victims, including kidnapping or abduction (22%), robbery (21%) and extortion (10%).
  • Most people traveled without documents, with 73% lacking migration or asylum papers, which UNHCR says heightens the risk of rights violations.
  • The findings come from 1,490 surveys in key transit cities and coincide with official data indicating a considerable drop in irregular entries in 2025.