The (Im)Possibilities of the Politics of Solidarity. Humanitariain Aid and Integral Support for Undocumented Transmigrants in Shelters in Mexico

Abstract

Mexico is the most transited corridor in the world. Beyond borderlands, human rights abuses committed against migrants pervade across transit communities and routes. In the interior of Mexico, not only at borders, the criminalization of migration has occurred having as a backdrop violence, xenophobia and insecurity in transit communities. Transit communities have developed complex relationships with the undocumented migrant having fragmented responses. Criminal networks and corrupt local officials with social ties to these communities attack and prey on: kidnap, rob, rape and exploit, especially undocumented migrants from Central America. But there have also been important expressions of solidarity towards transmigrants. Amongst other, and the principal are established shelters, by mainly local priests. The shelter has also gathered a plethora ofimplementing actors from NGOs, government and international actors and the community. Their support of the migrants varies widely from the provision of water and food to integral support (medical, legal and spiritual). And at times gathers contradictory objectives from different actors. Thus, the nascent shelters along transit routes are an important case study to explore both potential resources but also limitations in addressing migrants needs in a limbo, many stuck in transit due to violence and abuse.This paper will explore the contribution of the politics of solidarity for the transmigrant subject situation in Mexico through looking at the (i) the provision of humanitarian aidand integral support in shelters and (ii) testimonies of transmigrants on their views of the services. This paper is based on ethnography conducted during eight months of fieldwork and qualitative in-depth interviews with human rights defenders, humanitarian action actors and transmigrants.