Hundreds of migrants have set off from the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, embarking on a journey towards the U.S. southern border. This smaller caravan intends to join a larger one that departed six days ago and is currently halted in the town of Huixtla, approximately 25 miles (40 km) north.
According to organizers, the initial caravan has swelled to around 7,000 individuals, while the government of the southern Chiapas state estimates the group to be around 3,500 people. These migrants come from various countries, including Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Venezuela, seeking to escape poverty and political instability in their homelands.
Selma Alvarez, a Venezuelan migrant, expressed her frustration with the lengthy wait for a humanitarian visa, stating, “I think 3.4 months is too long to wait to get a humanitarian visa, to be able to travel through Mexican territory. Because we are at the mercy of coyotes, of criminals, it is good that we accompany each other in the caravan, it seems safer to me.” Alvarez emphasized the group’s eagerness to reach the U.S. border and initiate the process of entering the country, including securing appointments through the U.S. government app, CBP One, and requesting asylum.
The growing number of migrants crossing into the U.S. from Mexico has put pressure on President Joe Biden, who is seeking reelection next year, to address the issue. This year, a record-breaking number of individuals have crossed the Darien Gap region, which connects Panama and Colombia.
As the caravan progresses, the situation remains fluid, with the migrants facing uncertain futures and an unpredictable journey ahead.
(Reporting by Jose Torres; Writing by Sarah Kinosian; Editing by Josie Kao)
