The Cuban Santos Sanabria joined the new migrant caravan that departed this Thursday from Tapachula, Chiapas, and stated that he decided to leave the city due to the lack of jobs and low income.
His goal, for now, is to reach Mexico City, where a friend has offered him a job as a truck driver.
There is no work here, you work and for what you work they give you $200, and yes, you have to work really hard for $200, and the $200 goes away on a plate of food. And that’s why I’m leaving, yes, because I need to work," explained Sanabria in a video shared by CNN en Español.
The Cuban migrant stated that his immediate intention is to stay in Mexico City, which he referred to as the D.F., and to take advantage of the job opportunity he was offered.
"Well, right now I would like to go... I'm going to stay in Mexico City for now. I have work there; a friend offered me a trucking job, driving. So for now, I'll be in Mexico City. And from there, we'll see what happens," he stated.
Sanabria is part of the caravan called “Dreams Without Borders,” which began its journey on Thursday afternoon from Tapachula to the center of Mexico, primarily driven by a lack of jobs, economic hardships, and delays in the immigration regularization process.
La Jornada reported that this is the fourth caravan to depart from Tapachula in 2026, with participants aiming to reach other Mexican cities where they can continue their processes with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comar) and find work.
The figures regarding the size of the mobilization vary according to the sources. Associated Press reported over 600 migrants, while Grupo Animal estimated around 350 people. Other local reports placed the contingent at just over 500.
The caravan is made up of migrants from various countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans, Hondurans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans.
The lack of documents and job opportunities frequently appears in the testimonies. Non-governmental organizations cited by La Jornada estimate that more than 60,000 migrants are stranded at the southern Mexican border, while the processes before the Comar face a high demand.
Sanabria is not the only Cuban who decided to join the mobilization. Grupo Animal documented the case of another migrant identified as Santiago, who is participating in a caravan for the first time and aims to reach Monterrey, Nuevo León.
" I've been there, it's a very beautiful city and I like it; there are jobs, there are opportunities for a better life," said Santiago.
The Cuban carries a change of clothes, water, and peanuts in his backpack, and he explained that he hopes to obtain the rest during the journey. According to the report, Santiago had already been in northern Mexico and was deported after attempting to cross into the United States.
Associated Press also reported that among those who left Tapachula are migrants who were deported during the administration of President Donald Trump and who are now seeking to stay in Mexico, continue their asylum processes, or find job opportunities in other regions of the country.
The departure of the caravan had been announced in advance, when hundreds of migrants were getting ready to leave Tapachula after months of waiting, challenges in regularizing their status, and limited job opportunities.
At that moment, the organizers were pointing to Mexico City as the initial destination. While some members later aspire to reach the United States, others, like Sanabria, assert that their intention is to settle and work in Mexico.
The three previous caravans of 2026 departed in March, April, and June. According to La Jornada, all ended up dissolving between the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca.
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