Giovanni Rotschild, a refugee from Haiti, has found work as a delivery assistant while he waits for his nursing qualifications to be recognized in Mexico. © UNHCR/Jeoffrey Guillemard
When Giovanni arrived in Mexico after a long and uncertain journey from Haiti, he knew no one and spoke no Spanish, but he received support to rebuild his life and find a community
By Mateo Privitera Torres in Mexico City, Mexico
It’s 9 o’clock at night when Giovanni Rotschild gets in a truck to start his night shift as a delivery assistant in Mexico City. Three years ago, his night shifts looked very different – he was a nurse in Haiti, caring for patients in a packed emergency room.
Giovanni was forced to flee Haiti in 2022 after receiving threats against his life and amid a dire humanitarian crisis caused by insecurity and escalating human rights violations. Armed groups had taken control of several neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince, the capital, where Giovanni lived. Fearing for his life, he made the heartbreaking decision to leave behind his mother, his partner and his nursing job at a local hospital, knowing that staying could cost him his life.
“I used to have a normal life, but everything changed overnight. We went from living well to facing enormous hardships,” he recalls.
Haiti continues to face a worsening crisis, with widespread violence, mass displacement and urgent humanitarian needs. Over 1 million people have been displaced and amid the chaos, civilians are being caught in the crossfire and basic services have collapsed. As of June 2024, over 400,000 Haitians had fled the country and sought asylum. The majority, like Giovanni, have stayed within the Americas.
Although many Haitians try to reach the United States, Giovanni decided Mexico was a safe place to start again. It took him a year and a journey across four countries to reach his destination. “I had never experienced anything like that. It was exhausting, and at times, I didn’t know if I would make it,” he says.
© UNHCR
Seeking protection in Mexico
When he finally reached Mexico City, he felt relief, but also deep uncertainty about his future – he spoke no Spanish and had no support network. “I had mixed feelings,” he says. “I was happy to be here, but at the same time, I felt lost. I didn’t know what would come next.”
At first, navigating a legal system in an unfamiliar language was overwhelming. Things became easier when he started receiving support from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partner organization, Sin Fronteras, which provides legal and social assistance to refugees. “They told me, ‘This is your home now’,” he says. “When I arrived, I was struggling emotionally; they helped me get back on my feet.”
At Sin Fronteras, Giovanni took Spanish classes and received psychological support and legal guidance with the process of seeking asylum through the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). “They explained everything to me before my interview with COMAR so that I wouldn’t feel nervous,” he recalls. “The people at COMAR treated me with kindness and respect. They made me feel like I belonged here.”
After a few months, Giovanni was recognized as a refugee and later received permanent residency in Mexico. He was among 7,537 Haitians granted refugee status by the Mexican authorities between 2019 and mid-2024. “In that moment I felt free,” he says. “For the first time, I could live without fear, without stress. Now, I can do everything legally, and that makes me incredibly happy.”
At Sin Fronteras, Giovanni not only received vital support, but also found a community. “I made two friends who became like brothers to me,” he says. “We support each other through everything”.
UNHCR has been working closely with the Mexican authorities and partner organizations like Sin Fronteras to help Haitian refugees like Giovanni access protection and explore opportunities to stay in Mexico, rather than continuing dangerous journeys northwards. However, major funding cuts this year are affecting UNHCR’s support to partners such as Sin Fronteras and COMAR, as well as to shelters housing asylum-seekers, and programmes to help them integrate.
“The funding crisis threatens UNHCR’s response capacity in Mexico,” said Giovanni Lepri, UNHCR’s Representative in Mexico. “A pause in these efforts would directly affect refugees who are now finding stability, formal employment, and opportunities for personal and family development. In this context, support from individuals, institutions and the private sector is more vital than ever to help us continue this essential work.”
Finding hope away from home
While waiting for his nursing qualification to be recognized, Giovanni did some skills training through a UNHCR-supported Sin Fronteras programme. The training helped him find a job as a delivery assistant for soft drink bottling company, distributing beverages across Mexico City. Although it is a far cry from his chosen profession, he approaches the job with determination and sees it as the start of something bigger. “This is part of my journey.” he explains. “And honestly, I enjoy it. Every time I go out on a route, I discover more of Mexico, meet new people, and gain new experiences.”
He is counting the days, after five years as a permanent resident, until he can apply for Mexican citizenship. Becoming a citizen will allow him to vote, apply for a Mexican passport, and travel freely to other countries.
“It means I can fulfill another dream: visiting Spain and watching Real Madrid play at the Santiago Bernabéu,” he smiles.
He is also looking forward to the day he can reunite with his partner. “I can’t wait for the day we meet at the airport so we can finally start our life together here in Mexico.”
But beyond personal aspirations, Giovanni has a deeper mission: to use his nursing skills to help others. His goal is to start a health initiative in Mexico that prioritizes prevention and access to medical information.
“In five or 10 years, I want to be someone who changes lives. Just like I found people who saved me, I want to be the person that others can look to and say, ‘Thanks to you, I have a better life.’”
