Colombians in Mérida Continue to Face Prejudice Despite the City’s Growing Migrant Population
Although Mérida has become one of the main destinations for both domestic and international migrants, Colombians still face prejudice that makes their integration more difficult, especially when seeking employment, according to María Clara Murgueitio, president of the Colombia in Yucatán Association.
She explained that approximately 2,200 Colombians currently live in the Yucatán capital, including students and professionals who chose the city because of its safety and quality of life. However, she acknowledged that their nationality continues to be a barrier.
Murgueitio believes that stereotypes built over decades still persist, mainly because of the long-standing association between Colombia and drug trafficking.
She recalled that when she arrived in Mexico 25 years ago, it was common that whenever she mentioned she was Colombian, people’s first reference was drug cartels. Although the situation has changed over time, she said that part of this stigma still remains.
Her testimony is consistent with the findings of the 2022 National Survey on Discrimination (ENADIS) conducted by Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
Yucatán recorded the highest proportion of people aged 18 and older who reported having experienced some form of discrimination in the country, with 32.1%, a figure more than 50% higher than the one recorded in 2017.
Employment Challenges
Among the migrant population nationwide, 28.8% reported experiencing discrimination during the previous year, while 26.3% said they had been unjustly denied a right at some point during the previous five years.
Of those cases, 32.5% stated that they had been denied a job opportunity or a promotion, making the workplace one of the most common settings in which discrimination occurs.
According to sociologist Cristina Pulido, this type of behavior generally stems from prejudice against people who are perceived as “different” or as outsiders to the local community.
In Yucatán, the academic explained, these stigmas affect not only foreigners such as Colombians but also Mexicans from other states, who are often labeled as outsiders and frequently encounter obstacles when trying to integrate into the labor market, obtain housing, or build social networks.
Pulido believes that the rapid growth of migration to Yucatán has transformed the state’s social dynamics and highlights the need to strengthen policies promoting inclusion and public awareness, since most migrants arrive to work, study, or start businesses.
In that regard, María Clara Murgueitio explained that the Colombia in Yucatán Association has worked to present a different image of Colombia by promoting its culture, cuisine, and the work of the thousands of South Americans who live honestly and contribute to the state.
Support for Foreign Residents
Since its creation in 2018 and its legal establishment in 2023, the organization has also provided immigration and legal assistance, employment support, and guidance to help migrants gain access to public services and government institutions.
The association’s president noted that an increasing number of Colombians are relocating from states such as Mexico City, Querétaro, Guadalajara, and Chihuahua, attracted by Mérida’s peaceful environment. Others arrive to pursue university studies, and many ultimately decide to remain in the state, making it their long-term home.
Source: 24-horas
