Mexico: Information on los porros, particularly on their role in observing students at universities and on their relationship with Mexican authorities
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MEX25514.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: Information on los porros, particularly on their role in observing students at universities and on their relationship with Mexican authorities, 1 December 1996, MEX25514.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acf178.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The information available to the DIRB indicates that porros is a Mexican colloquial term for thugs, used in the context of partisan or student politics. One source states that though the techniques used by the opposition to protest fraud are almost always scrupulously non-violent, they are undeniably confrontational, which frequently leads to violence. Usually, though not always, that violence is directed by police or by porros (thugs) against opposition protesters; and since the PRD is the most outspoken opponent of the PRI, PRD sympathizers are the victims in the overwhelming majority of cases (Mexico: Country Profile July 1995).
Two articles from a Mexican journal called La Jornada, disseminated through an internet site of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, UNAM), refers to porros in the context of university conflicts. In one article, a group of students on strike at the College of Sciences and Humanities of UNAM at Azcapotzalco had bottles thrown at them by a group of porros, who reportedly threatened them into ending their strike (14 Nov. 1995). In November 1996 the same journal refers to another case related to a branch of UNAM, in Mexico state: students and teachers of the ENEP (full name not given by the source) Acatlán reportedly had been suffering aggressions (not specified) for two years by the Acatlán Law Students Front (Frente de Estudiantes de Derecho de Acatlán, FEDA) (19 Nov. 1996). The University Council of UNAM reportedly requested the governor of Mexico state to take action against FEDA (ibid.). The article's headline describes the aggressors as porros, adding that there were at least five inquiries at the public attorney's office (averiguaciones previas radicadas en el Ministerio Publico), that authorities have not detained FEDA's members, and that the threatening atmosphere (situacion de amenaza) at ENEP Acatlán had been increasing as FEDA's actions became more serious (actos...que resultan cada vez de mayor gravedad) (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
La Jornada [Mexico City]. 19 November 1996. "Exige el Consejo Universitario al gobierno mexiquense freno a porros en la ENEP Acatlán." [Internet] (accessed 18 Dec. 1996)
_____. 14 November 1995. Jose Gil Olmos. "Se reanudará el diálogo en el CCH, anuncian autoridades." [Internet] (accessed 17 Dec. 1996)
United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. July 1995. Mexico: Country Profile. Virginia: United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. (Refworld)