TAPACHULA, Mexico — On Sunday, approximately 2,000 migrants set out from Mexico’s southern border, aiming to traverse the country and eventually reach the United States. This mass movement occurs just weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential election, where immigration is a significant topic of discussion.

Some migrants, such as Venezuelan Joel Zambrano, express concerns that a potential change in the U.S. administration could disrupt the current online asylum appointment system known as CBP One. Zambrano shared, “That is what makes us fearful. They say this could change because they could both close the CBP One appointment and all the services that are helping migrants.”

The push for migration has been fueled by numerous factors, including a lack of job opportunities in southern Mexico due to a surge of incoming foreigners and delays in processing asylum applications in the United States. Honduran migrant Roberto Domínguez, 48, explained the dire circumstances that prompted his journey. “The situation in my country is very bad, the president doesn’t do anything for us. We spent a week by the border, but getting documents takes time,” he noted. He added that the documentation they receive is only valid within the city of Tapachula, restricting their movement further.

This latest group is the third and the largest to depart under the new Mexican government led by President Claudia Sheinbaum. So far, Sheinbaum has maintained the immigration policies set by her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Earlier this month, two smaller groups of 800 and 600 migrants also made the trek from the region.

Activist Luis García Villagrán has estimated that around 40,000 migrants are currently stranded in southern Mexico, adding to the urgency of the situation.