Migrants from various countries in Latin America are still determined to make their way to the United States before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, as they expect stricter regulations and increased enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Thousands of migrants in Central and South America have been filled with fear due to his anti-immigrant rhetoric and promises of executing the largest mass deportation operation operation in American history. As a result, they have been compelled to embark on their journey northward in large numbers.
More than 2,000 migrants have reportedly formed a new caravan in the city of Tapachula, in southern Mexico, with the goal of reaching the U.S. before President Trump’s term ends next month. This information comes from recent reports by Mexican authorities and activists.
According to EFE, on December 1, the group gathered to discuss their plan of action and outline the stages of their perilous journey through Mexico. The current caravan forming in Tapachula primarily consists of migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and other Central American countries.
The migrant caravan made a concrete plan to gather at Tapachula’s Bicentenario Park on Dec. 1. Their goal was to make their journey to Mexico City the next day. A Venezuelan migrant explained that they came up with the idea of forming a caravan because they were unable to leave Tapachula by bus. Additionally, job opportunities were few and far between while they waited for their asylum appointment on the CBP One app.
“We will begin our journey on foot on December 2nd. We kindly request the U.S. government to welcome us and provide us with opportunities to work, regardless of who the president may be,” expressed the Venezuelan migrant.
According to a migrant from Ecuador, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people leaving Tapachula in recent days. This is primarily due to various factors, including concerns about safety, a shortage of housing options for migrants, and limited job opportunities within the southern Chiapas community.
“I’ll be straight with you, we can’t rely on them,” he admitted. “We’ve seen agents who claimed they were here to assist, but ended up deceiving us… they take you into custody for three days and offer no help in obtaining the necessary documents. That’s why we don’t place our trust in anyone; we’re relying solely on God’s guidance,” he added.
Mexican authorities took action to disband the caravans over the weekend. Some individuals were transported back to southern Mexico, while others were provided with the necessary documents to travel across the country.
Migrant caravans heading to the U.S.-Mexico border
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Migrant caravans taking the risk to journey towards the southern border of the United States is not a new phenomenon, and it is likely to continue in the future.
A caravan that departed from Tapachula on November 20 has reportedly arrived in the municipality of Arriaga, Chiapas, which is located just over 150 miles northwest of the Guatemala border, as reported by EFE.
Between January and August this year, Mexico documented the arrival of over 925,085 migrants, marking a significant increase of over 130% compared to the approximately 400,000 migrants reported in Mexico in 2023.
Hurdles faced by migrants
Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have reached an agreement to reduce the number of migrants reaching the United States. As a result, authorities in Mexico have begun to dismantle the caravans that were heading northbound.
Mexico’s National Immigration Institute dismantled a group of 2,000 migrants who had reached the city of Tonalá. The group had initially started their journey in the city of Tapachula on November 20th, as reported by El Universal.
On November 30, agents arrived in Tonalá and provided migrants with the Multiple Migratory Form, a legal document that permits them to stay in Mexico for a period of 20 days.
According to Luis Rey García Villagrán, an activist advocating for migrant rights, he believes that the document given by agents is a deceptive tactic.
According to Villagrán, migrants who are observed walking do so because they lack the financial means to travel by other means. He questions the practicality of granting them a 180-day validity on their forms, but only providing them with a 20-day grace period. Villagrán wonders how these individuals can possibly manage to accomplish their objectives within such a short timeframe.