Colombia Acts Against Entry Denials and Airport Mistreatment in Mexico

Colombia’s Ambassador to Mexico, Moises Ninco Daza, met with Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the airlines operating between the two countries, aiming to reduce entry denials and eliminate mistreatment of Colombians in Mexican airports.

Recently, Colombian actress Cony Camelo posted on her social media platforms several alleged abuses suffered by Colombian tourists who were denied entry to Mexico, highlighting concerning conditions at Mexican airports. For the investigation, the Colombian Embassy established channels for complaints, through which 70 reports have been received, with the most serious indicating mistreatment of minors.

Colombian engages in dialogue with Mexican airports

Ninco explained on April 20 via his official X account, that agreements were reached with the airlines: “We agreed to make changes to the platform so that airlines have updated information on both entry requirements to Mexico and their responsibilities when conducting verifications (…) We will engage in dialogues with different airports to open channels for improving infrastructure in secondary screening areas and rejection rooms.”

Additionally, Ninco emphasized having joint action plans with Mexican immigration authorities, concluding, “We will maintain dialogues with immigration authorities from different states so that we can have precise monitoring of the reality regarding inadmissions and mistreatment.”

Worrisome figures of Colombian entry denials in Mexico

According to information from Mexico’s Ministry of the Interior’s Migration Policy Unit, there were 858,839 attempted entries by Colombians in 2022, doubling the approximately 450,000 in 2021. In 2023, there were 735,175 Colombian visitors to Mexico. According to Colombia’s Migration Office, the number of nationals denied entry in the past five years is 82,585.

On average, the number of Colombian nationals denied entry to Mexico is around 30,000 per year, a rate of 3.9 percent. “It is a very concerning rate and perhaps the highest of Colombians denied entry worldwide,” stated Ninco. February 2024 had the highest bounce rate in recent years, with over 8,100 individuals returning to Colombia.

Sources close to Mexico’s diplomatic mission confirmed to Blu Radio that patterns have been identified under which Mexican authorities are denying entry to Colombians: young men traveling alone with little luggage; Colombian passengers without a US visa; and those traveling on early morning flights, which often cost much less, are all more likely to be refused entry.

The Colombian Embassy in Mexico has identified that airlines are not fulfilling their role of assisting Colombian nationals denied entry, such as ensuring food during their stay in the rejection rooms. While efforts are underway to address this situation, Colombian travelers are encouraged to request an inadmissibility record in such instances and to seek information about the identities of the agents involved.