According to Mexico’s First Lady, Margarita Zavala, more than 50,000 immigrant children return to Mexico after having made the trip across the U.S.-Mexico border with their parents. At least half of them travel alone. Recognizing that the children face challenges upon their return, the First Lady — also the President of the Advisory Board of the government’s Institute of the Family (DIF) — says her organization will sign an agreement with the Mexican Immigration Institute to create programs to help migrant children upon their re-entry into the country:

She said that she feels strongly that NGOs and businesses should collaborate and help strengthen assistance programs for children.

“The fact taht they left home to be with their mom or dad, that they left to find a better life, makes them more vulnerable, and moreso if they are alone. We can’t close our eyes to this reality, which hurts us as human beings and as a country,” she said.

The First Lady’s plan looks to create partnerships with border states so that local agencies help migrant children reincoporate themselves into normal family life, and calls for the DIF and the Immigration Institute to take an active role in finding shelter and services for returning children whose parents are not in Mexico.

Via / Milenio