Cazatajá, Chiapas, Mexico – In an effort to make borders more secure, reduce illegal migrant crossings, and enforce the protection of human rights, the Mexican government has launched the "Southern Border Security Campaign."

"The campaign has the dual purpose of protecting and safeguarding the human rights of migrants entering and transiting through Mexico and increasing security of the region," said President Enrique Peña Nieto.

One of the main initiatives of the program is the implementation of "Regional Visitor" permits, which will allow Guatemalans to enter the country without a passport and stay for up to three days in any of the 81 bordering municipalities located throughout the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, and Quintana Roo.

While in the border town of Cazatajá, Chiapas, and in the presence of Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, Peña Nieto said he will also be implementing the "Border Worker Card Program," with which Guatemalan citizens may obtain employment in Mexico.

The Mexican President said that similar agreements have been made with the governments of El Salvador and Honduras.

He added that five border traffic control centers will be opened in order to efficiently monitor activity at the 12 existing border crossing points, 10 of which are located in Guatemala and two of which are in Belize.

The centers will also provide adequate space for the care of unaccompanied migrant minors until they are able to be reunited with their families.

"Border control is an issue that requires the joint cooperation of each country," Peña Nieto said. "Seeing as Mexico will be the host of the next International Conference on Migration, the country will do everything it can to ensure the proper treatment of unaccompanied migrant children."