About 1,200 migrants, mostly Cubans, left in a caravan this Wednesday from Tapachula, Chiapas, heading to Mexico City, in search of legalizing their immigration status and accessing job opportunities, after months of waiting characterized by corruption, hardship, and discrimination.
The walk began at dawn from the Bicentenario Park, reported the local source Tapachula Al Momento, which detailed that the State Preventive Guard and the National Guard accompanied the migrants on their initial route along the federal highway to ensure their safety. The group is expected to arrive first in Huehuetán, where they plan to spend the night.
According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), unlike previous caravans that aimed for the United States, this mobilization seeks to pressure Mexican authorities to expedite the asylum and refuge processes, which often get stuck in Tapachula, turning it into a real migratory bottleneck.
Stories of Despair
Cubans like Losiel Sánchez, who arrived with his wife last November, told the AP that after the end of the CBP One program by decision of President Donald Trump, thousands were left stranded in Mexico.
Sánchez tried to apply for asylum at the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar), but never received a response. "Everything is expensive and I can't afford rent. There's no work, they don't want to hire you if you don't have papers," he lamented.
Anery Sosa, another Cuban in the caravan, reported that she lost her documents in Tapachula and that, despite having a daughter from a relationship with a Mexican citizen, she has not been able to regularize her situation. Her greatest wish is to find someone to take care of her daughter so she can work. "What my husband earns is not even enough to eat,” she stated.
Similar stories are multiplying. Brian Balcón, interviewed days earlier by Diario de Chiapas, reported that in Tapachula "it is impossible to live because there is a lot of xenophobia, there are no jobs, and the jobs available require up to 12 hours for 150 pesos a day."
Daniel González, quoted by Diario del Sur, has been waiting for a response from Comar for more than a year and a half: “I was denied twice. I tried to request a humanitarian visa, and they told me they aren't issuing them. But if you pay a lawyer, the permit magically appears.”
Lidia Álvarez, another Cuban, described a landscape of discrimination and illegal fees: “Lawyers charge up to 15 thousand pesos and we barely earn 200 a day. All we want is the opportunity to legalize our status.”
A fight for dignity
The caravan emerged spontaneously through WhatsApp groups and social media, where migrants expressed their frustration with the conditions in southern Mexico. While some still dream of reaching the northern border, the majority aim for Mexico City or Monterrey to find work and send money to their families in Cuba.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that Tapachula has become a containment city, where thousands of migrants are trapped without basic resources or guarantees.
Despite the risks of walking hundreds of kilometers, many Cubans say they have no other option. As one migrant expressed before starting the journey: “We don’t want anything given to us, we just want to be allowed to move forward as human beings.”
Frequently asked questions about the caravan of Cuban migrants in Mexico
Why are Cuban migrants in Tapachula forming a caravan?
Cuban migrants are forming a caravan to pressure Mexican authorities to expedite asylum and refuge procedures. This decision arises in response to the corruption, discrimination, and precarious conditions they face in Tapachula. After receiving no effective responses from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar), the migrants are seeking to relocate to cities like Mexico City or Monterrey, where they hope for better job opportunities and more dignified living conditions.
What are the main problems faced by Cuban migrants in Mexico?
Cuban migrants in Mexico face corruption, xenophobia, and precariousness, especially in Tapachula. The processes for obtaining asylum or refugee status are slow, and often their requests are denied without clear justification. Moreover, living conditions are challenging due to the lack of formal employment, high rental costs, and low wages, which limits their ability to sustain themselves while awaiting a migration decision.
What alternatives do Cuban migrants have if they are unable to regularize their status in Mexico?
If they cannot regularize their situation in Mexico, Cuban migrants may try relocating to other cities where job opportunities are better, such as Mexico City or Monterrey. They can also explore alternatives in other countries that offer work visas, such as Canada, Germany, Australia, or Switzerland. However, these options also present challenges and are not always guaranteed due to current immigration restrictions.
What complaints have Cuban migrants made about the asylum process in Tapachula?
Cuban migrants have reported corruption and improper charges in the asylum application process in Tapachula. Despite meeting the requirements, their applications are rejected, while private lawyers and agents offer to "resolve" the procedures in exchange for large sums of money. This has created a perception of inequality in access to international protection and has led migrants to organize themselves into caravans to demand justice and raise awareness of these abuses.
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