Mexico City, February 28 (RHC) -- Mexican immigration and refugee aid agencies have signed an agreement to improve the attention given to foreigners who seek asylum in the country, the Interior Ministry has said.

The agreement basically calls for the agencies to coordinate their efforts to protect asylum seekers and expand their range of services, including offering humanitarian aid, first aid and orientation.

The agreement was signed by the head of the National Immigration Institute (INM), Tonatiuh Guillen, and the head of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid (Comar), Andres Ramirez.

Asylum applications have skyrocketed in Mexico since 2014, mainly due to the growing number of Central American migrants from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala who tried to cross into the United States through the U.S.-Mexico border, as U.S. authorities have cracked down on undocumented migrants.