Deported US Migrants Offered Jobs in Cancún & Riviera Maya

The tourism sector in Quintana Roo, Mexico, views deported migrants from the United States as potential employees to fill positions requiring English proficiency. These migrants could find job opportunities in Cancún and the Riviera Maya, particularly in the tourism industry which is currently facing a shortage of English-speaking workers.

Jesús Almaguer, president of the Association of Hotels in Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres, highlighted the high demand for skilled personnel during the busy Easter and US spring break seasons. "The Mexican Caribbean, with more than 150,000 rooms, is an ideal place for welcoming deportees," stated Almaguer. "Their English language proficiency is a significant advantage, along with their skills in areas such as gastronomy, service, or customer care."

Almaguer also noted that the tourism industry could potentially absorb many of the migrants if the deportations promised by the Trump administration take place, as "most of them work in service and customer care activities."

Claudio Fraustro Lara, head of the National Employment Service Unit of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, explained the federal government's 'Mexico embraces you' strategy. This involves using a questionnaire to determine the work experience and final destination of arriving migrants. "The National Employment Service then shows them job vacancies related to their trade in different regions."

The tourism sector, in particular, has a high demand for staff with English proficiency, making these migrants ideal candidates for jobs in southeastern Mexico. The governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, stated that the state maintains an employment rate above the national average, with the growth of tourist destinations providing a steady supply of jobs.

José Carlos López, a human resources assistant at Avolta, said that finding employees with conversational English, a crucial skill for customer service, is a challenge. Over 30 companies participated in the Cancún Job Fair, offering more than 1,500 jobs. Dolores López Lira, president of Grupo Lomas, revealed that the Riviera Maya has a staff deficit ranging from 30 to 40%, causing hotels to reduce service hours in restaurants and reorganize shifts to compensate for the lack of staff.

Business owners believe that the arrival of deportees could be a solution to this problem, provided there are effective strategies for their quick integration into the workforce. Both Dolores López Lira and Jesús Almaguer noted that federal projects like the Maya Train have drawn workers away from the tourism sector, leaving positions unfilled. "The Maya Train project and other federal projects have taken many workers, but we value those projects," they said.