Cubans Break Away from Migrant Caravan in Mexico After Deal with Immigration Authorities: What's Been Agreed?

In recent developments, a segment of the migrant caravan known as the "Exodus for Justice," which has been making its way through southern Mexico towards the capital, has started to splinter. This comes as some migrants, including several Cubans, have agreed to a deal with Mexico's National Institute of Migration (INM) to secure temporary stay permits.

This arrangement has led to the voluntary surrender of migrants to Mexican authorities in exchange for temporary stay permits that allow them to continue their journey to Mexico City. According to Mexican newspaper El Universal, initially, at least 30 individuals of various nationalities, including those from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Honduras, and El Salvador, have already received humanitarian visas and 30-day permits.

Migrant Census and Options for the Future

It remains unclear how many Cubans have accepted the deal or if others are considering similar agreements. These documents are expected to enable migrants to proceed legally and by bus towards the country's center, where they hope to manage their immigration status. Last week, news broke that the INM had begun registering members of the migrant caravan to understand their status and the options available to them.

El Universal previously reported that last Friday, President Claudia Sheinbaum outlined options for those departing from Tapachula in the caravan, ranging from repatriation to their home countries to employment opportunities in Mexico. Despite fears of deception, some migrants agreed to interviews and awaited the authorities' decisions.

Physical Strain and Mistrust: The Caravan's Challenges

While a portion of the group trusted the institutional offer, most of the caravan chose to continue on foot, braving harsh physical and climatic conditions. Women carrying children, the elderly, and individuals with injured feet trekked over 30 kilometers overnight in the rain to reach an improvised shelter on a basketball court. There, migration staff, child protection officers from the Beta South group, and representatives from the Ministry of the Interior tried to persuade mothers with young children to accept official assistance.

However, distrust towards the Mexican government is causing divisions among the migrants. A cited source reported that an Ecuadorian family with a baby born in Mexico refused INM's help, despite promises of fine waivers and document processing. By Wednesday afternoon, the group decided to head towards the community of Galeana, although many voiced concerns about injuries, exhaustion, and the fear of further desertions.

Luis Villagrán's Controversial Detention and Release

Amid these events, Luis García Villagrán, director of the Center for Human Dignification and a prominent advocate for migrant rights, was released after being detained on charges of organized crime in the form of human trafficking. A judge eventually dismissed these charges due to insufficient evidence presented by the General Prosecutor's Office (FGR).

Upon his release, Villagrán claimed the arrest was part of political persecution due to his criticism of the INM and the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). The activist has accused these institutions of extorting up to 25,000 Mexican pesos for issuing migration documents or refugee status, a practice he has denounced for years. "We hope there won't be more government retaliation or fabricated investigations," he said, adding that he is still considering whether to continue his activist work following the incident.