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-Editorial
The Baja California State Congress unanimously approved constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening protections for migrants’ rights, including prohibiting discrimination based on migratory status and guaranteeing full access to education for migrant children and adolescents.
The measures were approved Saturday with 20 votes in favor, none against and no abstentions, through Ruling No. 67 issued by the Commission on Governance. The reforms amend paragraphs 3 and 15 of Section A of Article 7 of the Political Constitution of the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California.
One part of the reform originated from an initiative by Rep. Alejandrina Corral Quintero of the National Action Party, which establishes an explicit prohibition against all forms of discrimination based on a person’s migratory condition or status. In presenting the measure, Corral noted that Mexico’s border with the United States makes the country a frequent destination for migrants, with Baja California serving as one of the main receiving regions.
She emphasized the vulnerability migrants often face, particularly in their interactions with authorities, and said strengthening legal protections contributes to compliance with international treaties and the defense of human rights.
The second reform stems from an initiative by Rep. Daylín García Ruvalcaba of the Citizens Movement party, which guarantees full and non-discriminatory access to education for migrant children and adolescents, regardless of their migratory status.
García said education is a fundamental human right that must be specially protected to ensure future generations have the tools needed to be competitive. She also highlighted that Baja California, as a highly transited border state, receives significant flows of migrants in transit, many of them minors who are at risk of exclusion from the educational system due to their migratory situation.
Lawmakers said the reforms are intended to provide clearer constitutional safeguards for migrants and reinforce Baja California’s commitment to human rights protections.
