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Migrant Caravan Departs Southern Mexico for Capital
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Migrant Caravan Departs Southern Mexico for Capital

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Approximately 800 migrants departed Tapachula, Mexico, in a new caravan heading towards Mexico City.
  • The migrants, from about ten nationalities, are seeking better opportunities due to difficulties in reaching the U.S. and poor living conditions in the region.
  • This caravan, named 'Caravana Sueño Sin Fronteras,' highlights Mexico's shift from a transit country to a destination amid stricter U.S. immigration policies.

A caravan of around 800 migrants set off from Tapachula in southern Mexico, aiming for the nation's capital in search of better prospects and relief from mounting difficulties.

Dubbed the 'Caravana Sueño Sin Fronteras' (Caravan Dream Without Borders), the group comprises individuals from roughly ten countries, including Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, and Venezuela. Many have been stranded in Tapachula for months, awaiting administrative processing from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar), while others joined more recently. They face challenges in continuing their journey to the United States and struggle with employment and subsistence in the border region.

Migrants expressed frustration with the slow pace of immigration procedures and the lack of dignified work. Denisse Zacarías, a Honduran migrant, stated her desire to reach Monterrey, a northern city rumored to offer more job opportunities. "One emigrates above all because they want to see more results for the family and help them," she said, emphasizing her goal to work, send resources back home, and establish herself legally in Mexico.

In personal terms, I want to get to Monterrey, they say there is a lot of work there and more opportunities to move forward. One emigrates above all because they want to see more results for the family and help them.

— Denisse ZacaríasA Honduran migrant explains her motivation for joining the caravan and heading north.

A Cuban migrant, who requested anonymity and had been deported from the U.S. seven months prior, described his situation in Tapachula as nearly unlivable, sleeping on the streets without food or legal status. He lamented being "kidnapped" in the city. Others from Cuba shared similar sentiments, expressing a desire for freedom and work, hoping to eventually reach the U.S. for agricultural or trucking jobs.

This departure marks the fifth such migrant group to leave Tapachula this year. The increasing number of migrants choosing Mexico as a destination, rather than just a transit point, reflects the impact of stricter immigration policies implemented by the U.S. government, particularly under former President Donald Trump.

I come from the United States, Trump deported me. I am 62 years old and I am 'kidnapped' in Tapachula.

— Cuban migrantA deported Cuban migrant describes his difficult situation in Tapachula.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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