Migrant Movement: 1,500 Travelers Depart Southern Mexico for Capital

Approximately 1,500 people began a northward journey from Tapachula, Mexico, on Tuesday. The group, which identifies as God With Us, aims to reach Mexico City, a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers. Local officials in Chiapas state estimated the size of the procession, which includes numerous families carrying young children in their arms or in strollers. Most participants are from Central America and hope to secure temporary protection from detention while they transit the country.

President Donald Trump issued a warning to Mexico shortly after the group departed. On Thursday, he wrote on Truth Social that large caravans are moving illegally through the country. He stated that the United States would double tariffs on Mexican goods if the movement of these groups did not stop. The president noted that many in the caravan are individuals other countries have refused to accept. He also said he was informing the incoming Democratic governor of Texas about the situation, claiming the recent election results had emboldened the migrants.

The departure followed the U.S. midterm elections, which resulted in a shift of power in Congress. Many travelers indicated that the Democratic victory gave them new hope for entry. Gina Hinojosa, the first Latina to lead Texas and a Mexican-American, won the governorship. Cesar Sandoval, a 47-year-old Nicaraguan migrant who was deported from the U.S. months ago, expressed optimism. He said he believed the Democrats would help facilitate their entry and that there might be a way forward.

Tapachula has become a critical transit point for those heading to the U.S. in recent months. Thousands of people have become stranded in the area due to strict entry restrictions and increased deportations. The region faces a lack of jobs, limited healthcare, and few school options for children. According to the AFP, this is the third caravan to attempt to reach the U.S. since September. The previous two groups were broken up before they could leave Chiapas, and members received temporary stay permits.

Mexican authorities acted against a second, smaller group attempting to reach the U.S. during this period. Local footage showed officers blocking a road while migrants ran and were surrounded. Reports from Tapachula indicated that about 40 people were detained in that incident. This group was separate from a larger cluster of about 1,000 people that crossed without resistance on Sunday evening. Ivan Porraz, a researcher at the College of the Southern Border, noted that as long as Trump remains president, deportations will not stop.