The Government of Yucatán and the National System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF) have announced a major initiative to support migrant children in transit through the region. The collaboration agreement will establish “Casa U’ulab,” a social assistance center designed to provide safety, care, and dignity to young migrants facing challenging circumstances.
Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena, honorary president of Yucatán’s DIF, signed the agreement alongside teacher Wendy Méndez Naal and María del Rocío García Pérez, head of the National DIF. With a capacity to assist more than 50 minors, “Casa U’ulab” positions Yucatán as the 30th state in Mexico to implement such facilities.
Díaz Mena emphasized that the center offers more than shelter; it represents a structured, humane response to the increase in migrant children passing through the state. “At Casa U’ulab, children will receive not only food and shelter but also medical care, psychological support, educational services, and legal aid, all with the overarching goal of providing dignified treatment,” he stated.
Expressing gratitude for federal support, Díaz Mena credited President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and the coordinated efforts of local and national organizations, including Yucatán DIF, the Office of the Attorney General for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, and the National DIF System. These efforts aim to ensure the facility is equipped with trained personnel, quality infrastructure, and a sustainable operational model.
In her remarks, Wendy Méndez Naal, honorary president of Yucatán DIF, expressed heartfelt thanks to the National DIF for selecting Yucatán as the host for the upcoming “National Meeting on Food and Development 2025.” Accompanied by Shirley Castillo Sánchez, Director of Yucatán DIF, Méndez Naal highlighted the need for societal and governmental collaboration to uphold the human rights of migrant children and adolescents, especially amid rising deportations.
The agreement will fund remodeling, equipment procurement, necessities, and operating expenses for Casa U’ulab, creating a safe haven that champions social justice and human rights for vulnerable children.
Source: Imagen Radio
