Acapulco, Mexico — A group of around 100 migrants from various nations found themselves lost and confused while navigating the streets of the troubled tourist destination, Acapulco. After trekking through southern Mexico for two weeks with many others, they accepted a transportation offer from immigration authorities, believing it would facilitate their journey north to the U.S. border. Instead, they encountered a standstill on Monday.
With President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration approaching, Mexico continues to dissolve large migrant caravans, redistributing migrants across the nation. This strategy aims to prevent large gatherings of people near the U.S. border while lessening the influx into any single area. Tonatiuh Guillén, a former head of Mexico’s immigration agency, explained that this approach, termed “dispersion and exhaustion,” has recently been central to the country’s immigration management and has notably decreased the number of migrants arriving at the U.S. border.
The latest policies appear to be a response to pressures from the Trump administration during his initial term, particularly after threats of tariffs over migration prompted significant changes in Mexico’s handling of migrant issues. Acapulco, once a thriving hub for tourists, is an unusual stopping point for migrants, as it battles severe crime issues and is still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Otis earlier this year.
On the same day, local tourists were wrapping up their beach vacations while migrants sought to make sense of their situation, with some resorting to sleeping in the streets. Ender Antonio Castañeda, a 28-year-old Venezuelan, expressed his frustration, stating, “We were promised permits to travel freely for 10 or 15 days, but instead we ended up abandoned here with no means to move forward. No transportation options, nothing.” He and many others had previously left the southern city of Tapachula and encountered a series of caravans, each containing around 1,500 migrants.
Migrants were often allowed to walk for many days until exhaustion set in before being offered rides to different destinations to “review” their immigration status, a vague term that could lead to many different outcomes. In Acapulco, a small group sought refuge at a nearby Catholic church, while many others crowded outside immigration offices looking for answers that never came. With limited options, Castañeda ultimately chose a van driver promising to offer transport to Mexico City but at a significantly inflated rate.
Some travelers learned the permits they received confined them to the state of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located, while others faced more favorable situations. Recently, some migrants received transit permits that allowed them to travel across Mexico freely for a specified period. However, safety concerns remained, as many reported they felt vulnerable on public transport due to prevalent violence and extortion in Mexico, particularly from drug cartels.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has defended her administration’s immigration policies as having a humanitarian focus and has permitted more migrants to leave southern regions of Mexico. Yet, advocates for migrant rights remark that many are being dispatched to violent areas, a sentiment echoed by the Rev. Leonardo Morales of the Catholic church assisting migrants in Acapulco.
Despite Acapulco’s challenges in integration, local priests are mobilizing to support migrants by providing essential resources such as food and clothing. “Many arrive without any money and are facing tremendous difficulties,” Morales noted.
The struggle for new arrivals is compounded by the reality of the local job market. Following the destruction caused by Hurricane Otis, the government has mobilized troops to help maintain order and begin reconstruction efforts. Despite these efforts, violence and extortion within the region have reportedly escalated, hampering local businesses and deterring larger corporations from investing in recovery efforts.
Honduran migrant Jorge Neftalí Alvarenga, who had escaped from Chiapas, voiced his disappointment, stating, “In many ways, we were deceived. We aimed for routes leading to Mexico City for work or to other industrial cities like Monterrey.” Now, he finds himself at a loss, uncertain about the next steps to take.
