Haitian migrants protest for work permits in Mexico

Hundreds of Haitian migrants gathered in front of the Mexican Commission for Refugees (COMAR) on Thursday hoping to obtain permits to allow them to work in Mexico City. The migrants told of their frustration by the long delays in order to get authorisation to work.

Some were told their request had been denied because they already had been issued work permits in Tapachula, a city in the south of Mexico where living conditions for the thousands of migrants are difficult and where they say there are no jobs. Jean Batiste was among the migrants joining the demonstration. He left Haiti five years ago and arrived in Mexico after a long journey from Chile. Batiste said he would not leave Mexico City without the necessary papers because he could then be arrested by immigration authorities. A woman had to be helped by paramedics after fainting during the rally outside the COMAR building.

Last year Haiti became the most common country of origin of asylum applicants in Mexico with more than 38,000 people seeking protection, but less than half of them received it. That protection includes a work permit aimed at giving them means to stay in the country instead of continuing their journey north to the US border, in line with Mexico's agreements with Washington.