Around a thousand migrants left this Sunday from Tapachula, Chiapasin a new caravan called “God Guides Us”, bound for Mexico City. This decision is due to the delay in “CBP One” appointments, the lack of employment, the difficult economic situation, as well as the insecurity and violence they face.
The group, which mainly includes people from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Central America, Haiti, Argentina, Panama, Costa Rica, Afghanistan and Nepal, marches in the hope of being heard by the Mexican government of Claudia Sheinbaum.
Álvaro Batista, a Colombian migrant traveling with his family, has faced numerous obstacles on his way to the southern border and joined this caravan to cross Mexico and reach the border with the United States. “What we are doing is not illegal. We want the National Guard to make our way easier, we would appreciate it. It is better to travel in groups, especially for women and children,” he said.
READ: A thousand migrants crossing Mexico
Meanwhile, Jeison, a Venezuelan migrant, asked for support from the health sector, mentioning that there are many women and children in the caravan who have left their countries due to lack of work and the high cost of living. “That’s why we ask that you guide us to Mexico City, where we want to stay until we have our ‘CBP One’ appointment,” he added.
This is the second caravan of migrants that leaves this region towards the capital, demanding employment, security and human conditions during their transit through Mexico. The group is guarded by state traffic elements and municipal police to prevent accidents on federal highway 200.
In addition, many migrants expressed their fear of dying of hunger in the streets, since there are minors who can barely eat one piece of toast a day. They requested humanitarian support, since Tapachula is becoming saturated with migrants who wander without economic support.
Although the Mexican Government reported that the daily detention of migrants on the border with the United States fell by nearly 66% from December to September, irregular migration increased by 193% year-on-year in the first half of the year, exceeding 712 thousand people, according to the Migration Policy Unit.
EE
