Jessica Xantomila and Jared Laureles
The newspaper La Jornada
Wednesday, August 7, 2024, p. 13
For migrant asylum seekers, the reopening of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar) in Mexico City is a relief
due to the uncertainty they experienced during the two months that their activities were suspended, but the location of the new offices in Granjas San Antonio, Iztapalapa, has made it difficult for them to move to the area, particularly because many of them do not know the city.
Although some neighbors expressed their concern The Day that they were not consulted about the arrival of the Comar to the community, expressed that at the moment they see no inconvenience to it operating in building number 167 on Calle 10, where the offices of the ISSSTE benefits sub-delegation used to be.
During a tour of the area, it was observed that the staff is still in the process of settling in, while users of the commission’s services are gradually beginning to arrive.
Juan Díaz, originally from Cuba, is one of those who arrived yesterday to continue the process of requesting asylum that began last February. He said that on Monday he learned through social media about the reopening of the offices and that he did not hesitate to show up, since he has the eligibility interview pending.
Accompanied by friends, he indicated that it took him an hour and a half to arrive, since It’s a bit complicated; maybe because it’s the first time we’ve come to this place and we don’t know it yet.
. He pointed out that during the time that the Comar was closed, there lived in uncertainty, because it was thought that it would no longer open
.
Another of those who came yesterday was José Marchan, a Venezuelan, who applied for a refugee certificate. He explained that he had to complete this process in order to apply for Mexican nationality.
Regarding the location of the Comar offices, he considered that They are very far away, and that is complicated, because for these procedures, if you do not bring a paper you must return home.
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In contrast, Omarly Ortiz, also from Venezuela, who came to apply for an identity and travel document for his son, stressed that although the place is not central, it has the advantage of being eight minutes from the Escuadrón 201 Metro.
Residents of Calle 10 and Avenida Año de Juárez, where food establishments, small grocery stores, businesses and various shops are located, said they learned of the arrival of the Comar because a group of workers had been carrying out maintenance work for eight days.
The manager of a nearby store and an employee of an optician’s, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that so far there have been no complaints from local residents, and on the contrary, some have found it helpful because it has increased their sales.
Meanwhile, the directors of the Casa Tochan migrant shelter, Gabriela Hernández, and of Casa Refugiados, Gerardo Talavera, acknowledged that Comar finally reopened its offices, but indicated that they were not notified, but rather found out about it on the Internet.
They also stressed that it cannot be forgotten that the suspension of activities impacted asylum seekers, leaving them in limbo for two months, after the failed change of address from the Juárez neighborhood to the Verónica Anzures neighborhood.
