Cuban immigrant makes a living washing cars after losing his documents in Mexico.

A Cuban immigrant has been stranded in Monclova, a city in the Mexican state of Coahuila, for nine months after losing his legal documents in that country.

Joan Jacinto Rodríguez Torres stated in an interview with the newspaper La Voz that he has given up on emigrating to the United States since he lost his documents and is now struggling to get ahead and build a future in the Mexican city that welcomed him.

He is 37 years old and makes a living washing cars. He dreams of saving money to have a better life and help his family in Cuba.

On January 20, 2023, Joan left the island. He crossed several countries in Latin America, walking most of the time. He arrived in Mexico with the goal of reaching the United States border.

In Chiapas, he obtained a temporary transit permit from the National Migration Institute (INM), but his desire to cross the border was cut short upon arriving in Coahuila. Immigration authorities warned him that if he continued on his way, he would be deported. Since then, he has remained in Monclova.

His income is only enough for survival. He has to allocate 200 pesos daily to pay for the hotel where he is staying, leaving him with little to eat, which has prevented him from saving enough to rent a place or find a more stable and secure job.

Despite the difficulties, Joan is grateful to the residents of Monclova, who have been kinder than in other places in Mexico and Latin America that he passed through.

The Cuban has experience in masonry, electricity, and other trades, which gives him hope of finding a job that will allow him to improve his situation.

He gave up on the idea of going to the United States, but still believes that he will be able to settle in Monclova and generate enough income to help his family.

"They know that I am in Mexico, but I can't send them money because I can barely survive," confessed this man who does not lose hope for a better future.

Joan's situation is not an isolated case. Until September 2024, more than 11,000 Cubans have applied for asylum in Mexico, according to data from the country's Refugee Assistance Commission (COMAR).

Many hope to be able to enter the United States legally at some point, but others have decided to settle in the Aztec country, even though it is not what they had initially dreamed of.