TAPACHULA, Mexico — A fresh wave of migrants has begun its journey on foot from southern Mexico towards the U.S. border, setting out from Tapachula, a city situated close to the Guatemala border.
The group is predominantly composed of Venezuelans, but it also includes individuals from countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, and Ecuador. Many among them express frustration over the obstacles they face while trying to traverse Mexico, largely attributing these challenges to government interventions.
While previous migrant caravans have often voiced their intention to reach the U.S. border, success in these endeavors has been rare. The current caravan’s members seem less certain about their final destination. With the U.S. political landscape shifting under President-elect Donald Trump’s pledges to halt immigration and carry out mass deportations, the prospects appear even more daunting.
A significant number of migrants are voiced their exhaustion from languishing in Tapachula, a city which has grown weary of hosting large migrant populations and where job opportunities are scarce.
Giscarlis Colmenares, a 29-year-old Venezuelan, has been stuck waiting for nearly three months for an appointment related to her asylum application via the U.S. CBP One app. Colmenares shares that her immediate aim is to reach Mexico City in pursuit of employment, hoping to either secure enough funds to advance her journey or facilitate a return to Venezuela.
In Mexico City, an informally established migrant camp is already overwhelmed with the influx of people seeking refuge.
Some participants of the caravan recognize the significant hurdles they are likely to encounter on their journey to the U.S. Douglas Ernesto, hailing from El Salvador, is making the trek along with his wife and their 10-year-old son. He candidly shared, “Our goal is the United States, but if that doesn’t work out, we’ll remain in Mexico,” while also admitting that navigating past Tapachula presents serious challenges.
Experts suggest that this caravan faces slim chances of traveling further than a few dozen miles. Mexican authorities previously dismantled two similar caravans in November, not far from Tapachula.
Historically, apart from the larger caravans of 2018 and 2019 that received assistance in the form of bus rides for part of the journey, no caravan has successfully reached the U.S. border by walking or hitchhiking in an organized manner, although a few individuals have managed to do so.
Over the years, migrant caravans have frequently encountered obstructions, harassment, and outright prevention from traveling by Mexican law enforcement and immigration personnel. Many have been rounded up and sent back to areas at or near the Guatemalan border, further complicating their aspirations of reaching the U.S.
