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Authorities from the National Migration Institute (INM), with support from the National Guard, conducted an operation to disband a caravan of over a thousand people that set out on October 1 from Tapachula heading to the center of the country.
According to the local media Diario del Sur, ten days later, only half of the group remains on the road. The rest have abandoned it due to exhaustion, illness, or returned to Tapachula to seek visas for humanitarian reasons, while others were detained at various points along the route, according to testimonies from the migrants themselves.
The most recent deployment was recorded in the municipality of Pijijiapan, where over 500 migrants remain.
After the intervention, the group decided to pause the march until Monday to rest and determine their next steps.
Migrants reported that the operation occurred while they were resting and claimed it was an "abuse of authority" against individuals seeking documents to travel safely to Mexico City or other states to begin their regularization process.
The migrants describe extreme conditions: long hours under the sun and rain, lack of medical care and health issues such as sores on their feet, fever, and dehydration.
They claim that at the checkpoints along the coastal highway, they have seen patrols from the INM and the National Guard, and that some people were detained while trying to enter the municipalities.
According to reports, those who returned to Tapachula after accepting the official proposal to manage their paperwork were "left abandoned once again."
In ten days, the caravan has traveled 148 kilometers along the coast of Chiapas, passing through Huehuetán, Huixtla, Villa Comaltitlán, and Mapastepec, until arriving in Pijijiapan.
To leave Chiapas, they still need to cover more than 70 kilometers to Tonalá and then to Arriaga, the final stop before Oaxaca. Despite the fatigue and uncertainty about the authorities' response, they assure that they will keep moving forward and that their strategy will be to walk united to avoid detentions and divisions within the group.
Migrants insist that their only request is a document that allows them to continue the journey safely.
So far, neither the INM nor the National Guard have issued an official statement regarding what happened in Pijijiapan or about the number of people detained during the operations.
The migrants, mostly Cubans, reported a network of improper charges and alleged complicity between lawyers and immigration authorities for the processing of documents in Tapachula.
Despite following the procedures with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) and the National Migration Institute (INM), their applications are rejected, while private agents offer to "resolve" the situation in exchange for payments of up to 22,000 Mexican pesos (almost 1,200 USD).
According to recorded testimonies, some have been in Tapachula for over a year and have received multiple rejections from COMAR for their asylum application.
They also denounce that the INM refuses to issue the "humanitarian notice"—which would allow for their mobility—but that it "magically appears" when payment is made to a lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Caravan of Cuban Migrants in Mexico
Why did the migrant caravan stop in Pijijiapan?
The caravan stopped in Pijijiapan due to an operation carried out by the National Institute of Migration (INM) and the National Guard to disband the group. The migrants decided to halt their march to rest and plan their next steps, after accusing the authorities of abuse of power while they were resting.
What difficulties do Cuban migrants face on their journey to Mexico City?
Cuban migrants endure long journeys under extreme weather conditions, lack of medical care, illnesses such as fever and dehydration, and arbitrary detentions. Additionally, they report corruption and improper charges by lawyers and immigration authorities to obtain the necessary documents for their travel and stay in Mexico.
Why do Cuban migrants choose to stay in Mexico instead of going to the United States?
Due to the tightening of immigration policies in the United States, many Cubans have decided to seek opportunities in Mexico. They aim to settle legally in Mexico to work and send money to their families in Cuba, as the country provides the possibility of receiving government assistance and finding employment, unlike the increasing difficulties in entering the United States.
What role does corruption play in the migration issues faced by Cubans in Tapachula?
Corruption is a significant factor in the migratory difficulties faced by Cubans in Tapachula. They report that despite completing the procedures correctly, their applications are systematically rejected, while private lawyers offer favorable results in exchange for large sums of money, exacerbating their economic and legal situation.
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