Securitized and criminalized: an analysis of Mexico’s addition to the list of designated countries of origin

Mexico’s addition to the list of Designated Countries of Origin (DCO) i.e. safe countries in light of extreme human rights violations and government corruption raises many questions. Using government data obtained through the Access to Information Act, this qualitative study examines the DCO policy and safe country designation process and applies the country designation criteria to the case of Mexico. Through government discourse, the securitization of migration and the construct of the ‘criminal’ refugee claimant have become normalized, leading to exclusionary immigration legislation. While questioning whether or not Mexico belongs on the DCO list, this study reveals the unjustifiable discrimination contained in Canadian refugee policy, specifically the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act (Bill C-31).