With the assistance of the National Guard, officials from Mexico's National Institute of Migration (INM) launched a major operation to dismantle a caravan of over a thousand migrants that set off on October 1 from Tapachula, aiming for the heart of the country. According to the local news source, Diario del Sur, only half of the group remains on their journey ten days later. Many have abandoned the trek due to exhaustion and illness, returned to Tapachula to seek humanitarian visas, or were detained at various points along the route, as per the migrants' accounts.
The latest enforcement action took place in the town of Pijijiapan, where over 500 migrants are currently stationed. Following this intervention, the group chose to pause their march until Monday to rest and plan their next moves. Migrants have accused authorities of conducting the operation while they were resting, labeling it as an "abuse of power" against individuals seeking documentation for safe travel to Mexico City or other states to begin their regularization process.
These travelers endure severe conditions: long stretches under the sun and rain, a lack of medical care, and health issues such as foot sores, fever, and dehydration. They report seeing INM and National Guard patrols at roadside checkpoints, with some individuals detained while attempting to enter towns.
According to reports, those who accepted the official offer to process paperwork and returned to Tapachula were simply left stranded once again. Over ten days, the caravan has progressed 148 kilometers along the Chiapas coast, passing through Huehuetán, Huixtla, Villa Comaltitlán, and Mapastepec, until reaching Pijijiapan. To exit Chiapas, they still need to cover more than 70 kilometers to Tonalá and then Arriaga, the last stop before Oaxaca. Despite the fatigue and uncertainty about the authorities' response, they vow to continue moving forward, walking together to avoid detentions and splitting of the group.
The migrants emphasize their sole request: a document that allows them to travel safely. So far, neither the INM nor the National Guard has issued an official statement regarding the events in Pijijiapan or the number of people detained during the operations.
Primarily Cuban migrants have alleged a network of illicit fees and suspected collusion between lawyers and migration officials for document processing in Tapachula. Despite following procedures with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) and the INM, their applications are denied, while private intermediaries offer "solutions" for payments up to 22,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $1,200 USD).
Recorded testimonies reveal that some have been in Tapachula for over a year, facing repeated rejections from COMAR for refugee applications. They also claim that the INM refuses to issue the "humanitarian notice" —which would grant them mobility— but it "magically appears" when a lawyer is paid.
Migrant Caravan Challenges and Mexican Authorities
What actions did Mexican authorities take against the migrant caravan?
Mexican authorities, with the support of the National Guard, conducted operations to break up the caravan, detaining some migrants and causing others to abandon the journey due to exhaustion and illness.
Why did the caravan pause in Pijijiapan?
The caravan paused in Pijijiapan to rest and strategize after the recent intervention by authorities, which forced them to reassess their next steps.
What challenges do migrants face on their journey?
Migrants face extreme conditions such as exposure to harsh weather, lack of medical care, health problems like sores and dehydration, and risks of detention at checkpoints.
What allegations have been made regarding document processing?
Migrants have alleged that there is a network of illegal fees and possible collusion between lawyers and migration officials, where documentation is offered in exchange for substantial payments.