This Wednesday witnessed the departure of a new caravan, consisting of hundreds of migrants, predominantly Cubans, from Tapachula, Chiapas, aiming for northern Mexico in search of relocation opportunities or legal migration pathways. As CNN reported, the group, numbering approximately 300 individuals, comprises migrants from at least 12 different countries, including Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
Many of these migrants have been stranded for months at Mexico's southern border, struggling unsuccessfully to regularize their status. The potential return of Donald Trump to the White House and the tightening of U.S. immigration policies have forced many to alter their plans.
Now, these migrants are setting their sights on cities like Monterrey or Mexico City, where they hope to approach diplomatic missions of countries such as Canada, Germany, Australia, or Switzerland, which offer work visas. "We don't have the United States as our destination. Our goal is to reach Monterrey because most of us have destinations in Canada, Germany, Australia, and Switzerland, which are providing visas for work," stated Mayda Bárbara Jordan Contreras, a Cuban migrant, as reported by El País.
Another Cuban, Maydali Barajo, traveling with her grandson, told EFE that they are looking to reach Monterrey because "the embassies of Canada and Germany are granting us visas to work and populate their cities." Despite warnings from Mexican authorities to desist due to the journey's risks, the caravan continues, accompanied at times by agents from the National Institute of Migration.
As per AFP reports published by El Economista, the group advances through roads guarded by state forces and Civil Protection personnel. The migrants also report long delays and bureaucratic hurdles in their asylum applications with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). "Four months ago, I went to COMAR, and I haven't received any mail or anything. Everything requires a lawyer, and it costs," another migrant mentioned to CNN.
El País notes that many migrants have resorted to expensive legal services without guaranteed success. "They have denied us everything, absolutely everything. It's sad because one leaves their homeland to seek new dreams," added the Cuban migrant Jordan.
This caravan, the second to leave Tapachula this year, almost got halted after the arrest of activist Luis García Villagrán, accused of human trafficking, as AFP reported. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum affirmed that her government maintains a "humanistic" migration policy, although she admitted that asylum applications are overwhelmed by increased demand following the U.S. policy shift.
This new migrant caravan emerges just a few months after the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that March marked a historic milestone in border security, with the lowest number of illegal crossings ever recorded at the country's southwest border. According to the official statement, around 7,180 crossings were recorded in March, a significant drop from the monthly average of 155,000 over the past four years.
Understanding the Cuban Migrant Caravan to Northern Mexico
Why are Cuban migrants heading to Monterrey instead of the United States?
Due to the potential return of stricter U.S. immigration policies, Cuban migrants are targeting Monterrey to access embassies of countries like Canada, Germany, Australia, and Switzerland to obtain work visas.
What challenges are the migrants facing in Tapachula?
Migrants in Tapachula experience prolonged delays and bureaucratic obstacles when applying for asylum with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), often requiring costly legal services without a guarantee of success.
How has the Mexican government responded to the migrant caravan?
The Mexican government, under President Claudia Sheinbaum, claims to maintain a "humanistic" migration policy, although it acknowledges the strain on asylum applications due to increased demand.