At MSF’s specialized center in Mexico City, an increasing number of patients are being admitted after facing the consequences of insecurity along the migration route and new restrictive US immigration policies.
Over the last six months, teams at the Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Comprehensive Care Center (CAI, in Spanish) for victims of extreme violence in Mexico City, Mexico, have seen a significant increase in mental health consultations and new patients.
MSF attributes the increase to continued violence at the hands of various armed groups—both organized crime groups and security forces—along the migration route through Central America and Mexico, fueled by a slew of harsh changes to immigration policies by the US and other governments in the region. As needs increase, MSF urges public entities and non-governmental organizations to strengthen assistance to people in Mexico who have been victims of violence and are seeking safety.
In the first quarter of 2025, MSF teams provided 485 individual mental health sessions to patients at CAI, including migrants in transit or stranded in Mexico as well as Mexican citizens. This represents a 36 percent increase compared to the number of sessions provided in the three months prior. Throughout 2024, MSF provided an average of 300 to 350 individual mental health sessions each quarter. Between January and March this year, the most common conditions people presented with were post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (48 percent) and depression (39 percent), as well as acute stress reactions (7 percent), grief, and anxiety.
The impact of restrictive US immigration policies
“Since the end of January, we have treated people with severe mental health issues due in large part to the impact of restrictive immigration policies recently implemented by the US and other governments in the region,” said Joaquim Guinart, CAI coordinator.
A flurry of executive actions taken by US President Donald Trump in January included the declaration of a national emergency at the US southern border—effectively militarizing immigration enforcement—and the temporary suspension of refugee admissions to the US.
Even before the executive orders were issued, the new administration took swift action to shut down the CBP One app that, despite its flaws, was the only way to apply for asylum at the US southern border. The impact of these restrictions is further compounded by funding cuts to humanitarian programs, severely affecting access to shelter and basic health care needs.
“These abrupt changes have left many people trapped in legal limbo, with no pathway to seek asylum and no access to essential services or protection,” said Guinart.
These combined measures further erode access to asylum and increase the risks migrants face—particularly children and other vulnerable groups, as people are pushed to use increasingly dangerous routes to seek asylum, or are trapped in unsafe locations where they risk being kidnapped, extorted, and exposed to sexual violence. In 2024, women accounted for 60–70 percent of new admissions and minors made up 20–25 percent.
Helping patients recover with comprehensive care
CAI opened in 2016 to provide comprehensive care for survivors of extreme violence and torture, including medical care, psychological sessions, and physical therapy, among other services. The goal is to help patients regain their autonomy and heal physically and emotionally. Most people receive three to six months of treatment, and there are between 30-50 patients admitted at any one time. In 2024, MSF teams identified 4,500 victims of moderate to extreme violence through our projects in Mexico or through partners. The CAI team admitted 186 patients for comprehensive treatment; others received care through mobile and fixed clinics or were referred to other organizations.
Most CAI patients are migrants coming from countries including Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, and Argentina, and there are also patients from as far away as Asia and Africa. Since the last quarter of 2024, CAI teams have also focused on treating Mexican patients who are displaced or affected by violence occurring in various parts of the country. This coincides with a significant increase in CAI admissions during that period—64 in total, which represents an increase of more than 50 percent over the usual quarterly average of 40.
“The goal is for patients to regain their functionality and reintegrate into society,” said Guinart. “The CAI is a refuge for those affected by violence. Kidnappings, extortion, abuse, sexual violence, and other forms of violence affect many people along the migratory route from the south of the continent to Mexico’s northern border with the United States.”
Many CAI patients are extremely vulnerable people. “Women and children make up the bulk of the cohort, [and] we also care for many LGBTQI+ people,” added Guinart. “Violence leaves deep scars, not only causing physical damage, but also serious psychological disorders. Specialized care is required as many patients experience changes in their perception of safety, trust, and well-being.”
“I didn’t know if I would be able to trust people again,” said Elena*, a CAI patient. “The violence made me feel unworthy of love or respect.” Through therapy, Elena has begun to regain her self-esteem. “I’ve learned that my past doesn’t define me and that I can build a better future.”
“Every day is a struggle,” said another patient. “Anxiety consumes me, but here I feel I have a safe space to express myself and heal.”
“The difficulty of accessing adequate care makes recovery much more arduous for many people affected by extreme violence,” said Henry Rodríguez, MSF’s general coordinator in Mexico. “In these challenging times of cuts in humanitarian aid, it is essential to recognize the importance of providing comprehensive support and cooperation between public entities and non-governmental organizations to direct these people to the few services available.”
