MEXICO CITY, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday said U.S. migration policies were responsible for a decrease in July remittances sent home by Mexicans living in the United States.

Sheinbaum said remittances dropped 16 percent from June to July and are down by about 5 percent so far in 2025, back to 2022 levels.

"Remittances increased substantially in 2023 and even more in 2024. Now we are at levels similar to 2022," she told a daily news conference in Mexico City.

"What explains this? Above all, the policies the United States has imposed on our migrant brothers and sisters," she said.

Sheinbaum said her government, along with Mexico's central bank, is assessing the impact of the decline in remittances and considering measures to protect Mexican families reliant on the funds.

Sheinbaum stressed that the situation does not pose a risk to Mexico's overall economy.

The U.S. is expected to impose a 1 percent tax on outbound remittances starting in 2026. The Mexican government has announced a special program to reimburse the tax on cash transfers from migrants.

Mexico received 62.5 billion U.S. dollars in remittances in 2024 from about 8 million Mexicans living in the U.S., official data showed.

Experts warn that higher costs could push undocumented migrants to turn to informal channels to send money, potentially boosting the irregular market. ■