Number of paisanos who traveled to Mexico rises

By Lorena Figueroa / El Paso TimesPOSTED: 01/17/2015 11:15:32 AM MST

REPORTER
Lorena Figueroa

More than 101,200 "paisanos," or Mexican citizens living in the U.S., returned to México via the state of Chihuahua for the Christmas holidays, according to Mexican immigration authorities.

The figure is nearly 20 percent higher than last year's 82,000 travelers who went home.

"This increase tells us that Chihuahua is gaining the trust of paisanos who a few years ago, because of the violence, stopped traveling through the state or simply stopped coming to México," said Víctor Estala, the coordinator for the National Immigration Institute, or INM, Paisano Program.

Mexican authorities made it a point this holiday season to make Chihuahua, and more specifically Juárez, the main crossing point for paisanos. On Oct. 30, the INM announced the establishment of a committee comprised of representatives from more than 20 organizations and Mexican government agencies to help paisanos travel safely and get cleared quickly by customs.

The overall goal is to end the historic mistreatment and extortion of paisanos, who historically have been targeted by thieves. Although the 25-year-old Paisano Program is year-round, Mexican officials take extra steps during Holy Week, summer vacations and the winter holidays to protect paisanos.

This year the special paisano committee was in place from Nov. 1 to Jan. 8.

During that period, the INM reported 101,228 paisanos entered México through Chihuahua, with the majority of them crossing through Juárez. Other points of entry were Jerónimo-Santa Teresa, the Ojinaga and the Palomas-Columbus port of entries.

Estala said only 15 complaints against federal authorities, including two of extortion, were reported during the Paisano Program.

The complaints, which are being investigated, are taken seriously to avoid similar situations in the future, he said.
Lorena Figueroa may be reached at 546-6129.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_2...d-mexico-rises