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Information for People Recently Deported from the U.S. to Mexico

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This article was last updated on July 9, 2026

Summary

Being deported can be disorienting and stressful. This guide walks through:

  • What deportation could mean for your U.S. immigration case
  • How to access your records
  • Whether you may be able to return to the U.S. in the future, and
  • If you have been deported to Mexico, the steps you can take in your first hours and days there. 

This guide was created by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) in partnership with Derechos Humanos Integrales en Acción, A.C. (DHIA).

Why was I deported?

The U.S. government may deport someone if it decides they were not lawfully allowed to remain in the country. Common reasons include:

  • Entering the U.S. without permission
  • Overstaying a visa or not following immigration rules
  • Certain criminal issues
  • Problems with immigration documents
  • A decision by an immigration judge that the person was not allowed to stay

Every case is different. If you believe you were wrongfully deported, speak with a U.S. immigration attorney to have your case evaluated. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here.

What Does Deportation Mean for Me?

  • If you had a pending asylum application or another immigration case, that case may have been closed, denied, changed, or require additional legal action. A U.S. immigration lawyer can explain exactly how your deportation affects your specific case. Find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here.
  • If you were deported but your children remain in the U.S., you may still be able to receive support to stay involved in decisions about their care. You can request assistance from IRAP here.

Where Can I Find Information and Documents About My U.S. Immigration History?

If you want copies of your case history or records, here is what you can do:

  • If you had a case in immigration court: Check the EOIR Case Status System. You will need your A-Number, a unique seven- to nine-digit number given to you by USCIS. You can find this number (AXXX-XXX-XXX) on important immigration documents, such as your green card or work permit. Here are some examples of documents where you can find your A-number:

  • If you dealt with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), you or a lawyer can ask for your records:

Can I Enter the U.S. Again?

Deportation can affect if and how you return to the U.S:

  • In some cases, you may still be able to return the right way — for example, with a visa or another type of permission. Some people must wait before applying. Others need special permission from the government.
  • Before you make any plans to return, get your immigration records and talk to a U.S. immigration lawyer. They can tell you your options.
  • If you enter the U.S. again without permission, you could be arrested, detained, deported again, or face other legal problems.
  • If you are afraid to return to your country, tell this to every immigration official you meet, at any time. Say this even if you are afraid of being sent to a country that is not your home country.

I Was Deported to Mexico — Now What?

  • First 24 Hours: The place where you are dropped off can be dangerous. Stay in busy, well-lit public places. Do not accept rides, phone loans, or "help" from strangers. Stay together with other people who were deported with you.
  • First Steps:
    • Keep your papers safe. Send copies to someone you trust in case you lose them.
    • Find shelter. Look for a trusted organization or shelter that helps migrants (see the list below).
    • Get help. Contact your nearest United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or International Organization for Migration (IOM). They can help with legal support, emotional support, asylum in Mexico, or contacting your country's embassy.
    • If you are Mexican: Keep your Constancia de Repatriación — a paper from Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) that works as a temporary ID. Ask about government programs like "México Te Abraza" that help you get home, find work, and get local services.
  • Asking for Asylum in Mexico
    • If you are not from Mexico and have no papers to stay legally, Mexican authorities may stop, detain, take advantage, or try to deport you back to your home country.
    • If you are afraid to go back to your country, tell INM right away.
    • You can ask for asylum in Mexico through INM or through COMAR (Comisión Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados). People who go to INM or COMAR to ask for asylum cannot be detained.
    • Ask for asylum within 30 days of arriving. After that, you must explain why you waited.
    • Keep proof that you asked for asylum. This should protect you from being deported while waiting for a decision.
    • Stay in the same state where you asked for asylum until you get a final answer. This can take a year or more, so it is best to apply where you have family or other support.
  • If You Want to Go Back to Your Home Country
    • IOM or your embassy may be able to help you return home (see resources below)
  • If Mexican Authorities Treat You Unfairly
    • Call the Instituto Federal de Defensoría Pública (IFDP) hotline: 800 224 2426 (open 24 hours a day).
  • If You Need Help with Mental Health or Substance Use
    • SAPTEL — Free, 24/7 emotional support and crisis help in Spanish: (55) 5259-8121 or (800) 472-7835
    • La Línea de la Vida — 24/7 helpline for addiction, violence, or thoughts of suicide (you can also call for someone you care about): (800) 911-2000

Note: Mexico's country code is +52. Mexican phone numbers have 10 digits. If calling from outside Mexico, dial +52 first, then the number.

Local Resources in Mexico

  • Tapachula
    • OIM (IOM): 4ta Avenida Norte No. 70, Esquina 11 Poniente, Col. Centro, C.P. 30700, Tapachula. Office: +52 962 620 58 63. Voluntary return: +52 55 5944 6460 / +52 55 294 60071 / +52 55 5944 4912
    • UNHCR: 21 Oriente esquina 9na, Norte #22, Tapachula. Phone: 800 226 8769 / 800 283 2718. WhatsApp: +52 55 7005 5950 / +52 55 2535 2950
    • Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS): Tercera Avenida Sur, entre Central y Segunda Oriente #8, Colonia Centro, C.P. 30700, Tapachula. Legal help: +52 962 196 37 17. Emotional support: +52 962 179 57 43. General help: +52 962 107 17 23
    • Comar: Libramiento Sur Poniente S/N, Colonia Los Naranjos, C.P. 30700, Tapachula
  • Villahermosa
    • OIM (IOM): Edificio del Sistema Nacional para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF). Voluntary return: +52 55 2667 6997 / +56 2564 2101
    • UNHCR: Av. Alfonso Taracena 202-A esquina Pages Llergo, Col. Nueva Villahermosa. Phone: 800 226 8769 / 800 283 2718. WhatsApp: +52 55 7005 5950 / +52 55 2535 2950
    • Al Otro Lado Binational Deportee Program: Legal help, education, and community support for people who were deported. Fill out this form
  • Ciudad Juárez
    • OIM (IOM): Voluntary return: +52 55 2953 7348 / +52 56 1994 4760 (WhatsApp only)
    • Derechos Humanos Integrales en Acción, A.C. (DHIA): Emotional support and legal help. Galeana 678, 2nd floor, Interior 101, Centro, 32000. Phone: +52 656 614 7150

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