Mexico Expands Immigration Enforcement in Mexico City as Critics Compare INM Operations to ICE Raids in the United States

Mexico is now facing growing scrutiny over its own immigration enforcement policies after reports emerged of immigrant operations carried out in Mexico City by agents from the National Migration Institute (Instituto Nacional de Migración, INM) alongside security forces.

Activists, civil organizations, religious leaders, and multiple media outlets have raised concerns over detentions of foreign nationals in residential complexes and public spaces across the capital.

Estos fascistas del Instituto Nacional de Migración se pusieron a hacer una redada contra personas migrantes enfrente de mí. Escuchen cómo les dije en su cara que están cometiendo actos inhumanos y ya me querían pedir mi identificación. Son una vergüenza para México. pic.twitter.com/oVNyWVugtm

— Luis Valenzuela #ConUnaVerdaderaDivisiónDePoderes (@lvalenzuela_19) April 30, 2026

The controversy has intensified because these actions come while many Mexican political figures and activist groups frequently condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the United States. Critics are now asking whether Mexico is implementing similar tactics against immigrants within its own borders.

Reports began surfacing in late April and early May from neighborhoods in boroughs such as Cuauhtémoc and Miguel Hidalgo.

According to testimonies collected by Mexican media outlets, migrants were allegedly stopped in apartment buildings, on public streets, and near transportation hubs, where authorities reportedly requested identification and immigration documentation before detaining some individuals.

Mexico’s National Migration Institute has denied conducting “raids,” insisting that the operations were part of preventive security measures coordinated with local authorities.

Officials argued the actions were aimed at addressing public safety concerns and identifying individuals without legal status in the country.

However, migrant advocacy organizations dispute that explanation. Several groups claim some of those detained had pending asylum applications or valid documentation through Mexico’s refugee system managed by COMAR, the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance.

Human rights defenders have warned that the operations may violate due process protections guaranteed under Mexican law.

The issue escalated further after the Catholic Church in Mexico publicly criticized the operations. The Archdiocese of Mexico stated that immigrants must be treated with dignity regardless of their legal status and warned against arbitrary detentions.

The Church’s remarks added pressure on the federal government as concerns continue to grow among humanitarian organizations.

Some analysts believe the increased enforcement could also be tied to broader government efforts to tighten control over migrant populations ahead of major international events, including preparations linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, although federal authorities have not officially confirmed such motivations.

The situation has reignited debate over what critics describe as a double standard in migration politics. Mexican officials have repeatedly demanded humane treatment for Mexican nationals detained in the United States, especially during ICE enforcement operations.

At the same time, Mexico now faces accusations of adopting similarly aggressive measures toward Central American, South American, and Caribbean migrants traveling through or residing in the country.

As immigration pressures continue across the region, the controversy highlights how immigration enforcement has become an increasingly sensitive political issue on both sides of the border.

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