The "largest human movement" in the nation is currently taking place in Mexico, as thousands of migrants have joined together in a caravan with the intention of making their way to the United States. This mass movement is a direct response to the migrant embargo put in place by Mexican authorities, which seeks to confine arrivals to the northern border of the country.
The journey began in Tapachula, a city located on the southern border of Mexico, approximately 1,150 kilometers south of the capital. On Sunday, April 24, around 10,000 individuals, mainly of African and Asian descent, but also including Latin Americans, set off from the municipality of Chiapas to begin their arduous trek northwards, covering a distance of over three thousand kilometers to reach the United States border with Mexico.
Represented within the caravan are people from a total of 24 nations, with the majority hailing from Cuba, Haiti, and Honduras. However, there are also individuals from other countries such as the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, as well as Iran, Pakistan, India, Syria, China, Bangladesh, and various African nations. The diverse range of nationalities reflects the dire circumstances and desperation that drive people to embark on this long and treacherous journey in search of a better life.
The decision to embark on this perilous journey is not taken lightly. Many of the migrants have spent months living in abject poverty in Tapachula, with little or no assistance from the Mexican government. The National Migration Institute, responsible for immigration matters, has failed to provide aid to these vulnerable individuals, leaving them to fend for themselves for extended periods of time. It is this neglect that has led them to take matters into their own hands and embark on this extraordinary mass movement.
Luis Rey García Villagrán, the head of the Center for Human Dignity, has taken on the crucial role of accompanying the refugees on their arduous journey. He has remarked that the magnitude of this mass movement is unprecedented. For several days now, the highways of southeast Mexico have been filled with people and children, replacing the usual sight of trees. García Villagrán describes this as an extraordinary sight, one that has never been witnessed before. The caravan is expected to continue growing as it progresses, with estimates suggesting that it will reach a staggering 16,000 people by the time it reaches Mexico City.
The situation is further exacerbated by the control exerted by criminal organizations over foreign nationals. The Mexican National Migration Institute temporarily suspended permits for entry into Mexico in September, effectively trapping migrants and exposing them to the mercy of coyotes and human traffickers. This dangerous situation puts the lives of countless women and children at risk. In the face of such peril, walking for ten to twelve hours a day, braving the intense heat of the Chiapas coast, is considered the safest method of travel.
The recent surge in migration has not gone unnoticed by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The number of individuals attempting to enter the United States on a daily basis has surpassed 10,000, according to American border police. This represents a significant increase compared to previous weeks, highlighting the pressing nature of the migration crisis.
In conclusion, the caravan of migrants making their way through Mexico to the United States is not only the largest human movement in the country, but it also symbolizes a desperate cry for help from thousands of individuals who have been left in dire circumstances for far too long. As the journey continues, one can only hope that these brave individuals will find the support and assistance they so desperately need in order to build better lives for themselves and their families.