Frustrated by a lack of job opportunities and a slow asylum process in Mexico, a group of migrants in Tapachula has decided to form a caravan in hopes of heading north towards regions with better economic prospects. The majority of these migrants are from Cuba and Honduras, and they are looking to join the Genesis caravan, which is expected to have at least 500 participants for the journey into central Mexico.
As reported, these migrants have been gathering at Miguel Hidalgo Central Park, located in the city near the Mexico-Guatemala border, to plan their departure. However, no specific date has been set yet. This caravan is still in the early planning stages and is struggling to attract enough participants at this point.
The group’s intention is to follow previously established routes that lead to border states, aiming to reach Oaxaca and eventually move further north into Mexico. A similar caravan consisting of about 1,200 migrants has already begun its journey from the southern border with Guatemala, aiming for Mexico City’s capital by October 2025. This group is also disillusioned by the sluggish asylum processing in Mexico and has expressed that they do not intend to apply for asylum in the United States. They were returned to Tapachula after being promised quicker processing of their refugee claims.
Without legal refugee status, migrants in Mexico face significant obstacles. They cannot legally work in factories or stores and are ineligible for social security benefits. This lack of status often leads to exploitation by employers. Migrant groups have voiced concerns that the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) and the National Institute of Migration (INM) are neglecting their asylum applications.
Many in the groups trying to leave Tapachula have remarked about the scarcity of job opportunities and the challenges of finding work, often ending up in long hours for meager pay. Estimates suggest that around 75,000 foreign immigrants are currently stranded at Mexico’s southern border, a situation worsened by tighter immigration policies from the previous U.S. administration.
It appears that many in this group are Cuban migrants who were recently deported from the United States. After taking office, the Trump administration moved quickly to end programs like CBP-One, which allowed a set number of immigrants to cross the border each day for asylum. Another program instituted during the Biden administration, aimed at specific nationalities, was also discontinued.
Since Trump’s tenure began, apprehensions at the U.S. southwest border have declined significantly, dropping to under 10,000 per month. Current projections suggest the number of illegal apprehensions will remain below 100,000 for this fiscal year.
