Ambivalent protection? Statelessness, African migrants, and migration governance in Mexico

This paper examines Mexico’s evolving migration policies towards extra-continental migrants, focusing on the categorisation of African migrants as ‘stateless’ and the subsequent consequences of this status. Drawing on anthropological and legal perspectives, it explores how Mexico’s issuance of stateless cards – intended as a humanitarian fix – produces new layers of precarity and legal ambiguity. The analysis situates this practice within broader frameworks of global migration governance and regional politics, tracing how Mexico’s ambivalent approach reflects its dual role as both a transit and containment state under U.S. pressure. The paper highlights how these policies disproportionately affect Black migrants, revealing the entanglement of anti-Black racism, bureaucratic improvisation, and international legal norms. Through its interdisciplinary approach, this paper contributes to a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding statelessness and migration governance, highlighting the urgent need for more holistic and rights-based approaches to international protection. Finally, the paper advocates for solutions at domestic, regional, and international levels to address the systemic flaws in current migration policies. It emphasises the importance of informed consent and the protection of migrants’ rights, calling for reforms to prevent the issuance of legal statuses that have detrimental impacts on individuals’ future migration goals.