Migrants stranded at the border with Guatemala confirmed that they will leave in a caravan next Thursday, August 20, seeking to reach other regions of Mexico where they can continue their immigration procedures and find employment.
The foreigners have been organizing for weeks through social media and WhatsApp groups, where they coordinate their departure from Tapachula, the main city in the region.
According to unofficial estimates, more than 500 people have registered and could join the contingent.
“The departure will be at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, from Bicentenario Park. It is recommended to arrive at the meeting point in advance so that everyone is ready at departure time,” reads a message circulated through communication platforms.
This would be the fourth migrant caravan to attempt to leave southern Mexico. The first took place in March, the second in April, and the third last July. All three were disbanded between Chiapas and Oaxaca by the National Institute of Migration.
According to Centro de Dignificación Humana A.C., more than 60,000 foreigners are stranded along Mexico’s southern border, having spent months carrying out procedures without receiving a response from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). They also have difficulty finding employment, with the few available options being in the informal sector and providing precarious incomes.
The migrants themselves maintain that they are not pursuing the American dream, but rather want to reach cities in central and northern Mexico where they can find better living conditions and continue their paperwork with COMAR.
Source: jornada
