Without freedom or health: sexual and reproductive health in the immigration station in Mexico City

Abstract

In Mexico people who do not prove a regular immigration status are detained –with certain exceptions such as kids– in centers run by the National Institute of Migration. As a result, their freedom and access to basic services, including health services, are limited. The provision of sexual and reproductive health services is a clear example of this and, despite the existing regulatory framework, there is almost no guarantee of these services at the Mexico City Immigration Station. A possible reason for this deficiency is the authorities’ ignorance of these rights, a series of prejudices, as well as the lack of a public policy in this regard. In this sense, the objective of this text is to provide an overview of the state of these services, through an analysis of the regulatory framework and the analysis of public data obtained through various requests for information.