Misinformation entraps migrants

The tightening of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies, the militarization of the border, and the elimination of the CBP One app have caused thousands of migrants to remain in Mexico. However, an investigation by Factchequeado and Conexión Migrante reveals that the Mexican government’s lack of information has created a vacuum that is being exploited by criminals who deceive and abuse migrants.

Rafael Olavarría, a policy and migration fact-checker at Factchequeado, a fact-checking outlet that builds a Spanish-speaking community to counter misinformation in the United States, explains that the Mexican government is the main source of misinformation.

Rafael Olavarría points out, for example, that the data from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar) has not been updated since 2016.

He explains that there are lawyers in Tapachula, Chiapas, who charge for procedures that are free of charge.

Rafael Olavarría says that in Nuevo León there are people who sell fake Canadian visas, or many people who apply through CBP One but are no longer active.

Rafael Olavarría, fact-checker on politics and migration at Factchequeado, says that another case is that they charge people to cross the border and then kidnap them.

But fraud is also committed on social media.

Finally, Rafael Olavarría, fact-checker on politics and migration at Factchequeado, comments that many people who are victims of fraud unfortunately lose their appointments or documents and become more vulnerable.