The Impact of Digitalization on Asylum System Management in Mexico

Abstract

Executive Summary

The literature on digitalization in asylum management remains divided on its benefits and risks, particularly in developing countries. While many studies emphasize the administrative efficiencies that digital tools provide, few explore their social and ethical implications, especially concerning the exclusion of vulnerable groups and the political and institutional contexts in which these technologies are implemented. This article addresses this gap by examining the impact of technologies implemented by the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on asylum seekers in Mexico. Using a qualitative approach, we analyze tools such as biometric systems, digital archives, and case management platforms.

Our findings suggest potential efficiency improvements and reduced waiting times, but also highlight significant risks, including data privacy concerns for vulnerable populations and new barriers for women and those with limited digital literacy. This study offers a critical assessment of digitalization in the context of international protection and emphasizes the need for more inclusive digital policies to safeguard refugee rights. We recommend a set of policy measures aimed at balancing efficiency with equity and protection:

To consolidate administrative improvements, authorities should standardize procedures, delegate case-management powers, and institutionalize systematic training and auditing. Yet efficiency alone is insufficient: protecting vulnerable populations requires governing interoperability with safeguards. Purpose-limited data-sharing agreements are essential to prevent privacy breaches and the misuse of personal information.

The digital transition must avoid creating new barriers for women and individuals with limited digital literacy. Maintaining legally equivalent offline alternatives, simplifying and translating forms, and expanding accessibility measures are critical to ensuring that technological progress translates into inclusive protection. COMAR and UNHCR, in particular, should play a leading role in promoting user-centered design and outreach to marginalized groups by incorporating digital inclusion as a core, rights-based principle of asylum system digitalization.

Legitimacy, accountability, and sustainability should be reinforced through participatory review mechanisms, independent audits, stable funding for maintenance and security, contractual safeguards for data integrity and service continuity, and the alignment of external support with domestic capacity-building goals.