Cuban Joins New Migrant Caravan from Tapachula: "There Are No Jobs Here"

Santos Sanabria, a Cuban national, has joined the latest migrant caravan departing from Tapachula, Chiapas, this Thursday. He explained his decision to leave the city due to the lack of employment opportunities and insufficient wages.

His immediate goal is to reach Mexico City, where a friend has offered him a job as a truck driver.

"There are no jobs here. You work and earn $200, but you have to work really hard for those $200, and they just get spent on a meal. That's why I'm leaving, because I need to work," Sanabria stated in a video shared by CNN en Español.

The Cuban migrant expressed his intention to stay in the Mexican capital, referred to as D.F., to take advantage of the job opportunity offered to him.

"Right now, I want to go... I'll stay in D.F. for now. I have a trucking job there, offered by a friend. So for now, I'll be in D.F. and see what happens from there," he affirmed.

Dreams Without Borders: The Caravan's Journey

Sanabria is part of the caravan named "Dreams Without Borders," which began its journey on Thursday afternoon from Tapachula toward central Mexico, driven primarily by unemployment, economic hardships, and delays in migration regularization processes.

According to La Jornada, this is the fourth caravan to depart Tapachula in 2026. Participants aim to reach other Mexican cities to continue their processes with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid (Comar) and find employment.

The size of the caravan is reported differently by various sources. The Associated Press mentioned over 600 migrants, while Grupo Animal estimated around 350 individuals, with other local reports suggesting slightly more than 500.

Multinational Effort Amidst Struggles

The caravan consists of migrants from various Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans, Hondurans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans.

Lack of documentation and employment opportunities frequently appear in testimonials. Non-governmental organizations cited by La Jornada estimate that over 60,000 migrants remain stranded at Mexico’s southern border, facing high demand for Comar procedures.

Sanabria is not the only Cuban who decided to join the movement. Grupo Animal reported on another migrant named Santiago, participating in a caravan for the first time, aiming to reach Monterrey, Nuevo León.

"I've been there; it's a very nice city, and I like it. There's work, and there are opportunities for a better life," Santiago said.

Carrying a change of clothes, water, and peanuts in his backpack, Santiago explained he plans to acquire what he needs along the way. According to the report, Santiago had previously been in northern Mexico and was deported after attempting to cross into the United States.

The Road Ahead Amid Political and Social Challenges

The Associated Press also noted that among those leaving Tapachula are migrants deported during President Donald Trump's tenure, now seeking to stay in Mexico, continue asylum processes, or find job opportunities in other parts of the country.

The caravan's departure had been announced beforehand, with hundreds of migrants preparing to leave Tapachula after months of waiting, difficulties in regularizing their status, and limited work options.

Organizers initially pointed to Mexico City as the first destination. While some members hope to eventually reach the United States, others, like Sanabria, express their intent to settle and find work in Mexico.

The three previous caravans of 2026 departed in March, April, and June. According to La Jornada, they all eventually dispersed between the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca.