Migrant caravans moving north in Mexico are not a recent phenomenon and have previously gained national attention. In 2018, a migrant caravan drew the focus of then-President Donald Trump, leading to increased border enforcement measures in the United States.
Thursday, Nov. 2, a growing number of migrants are making their way north from Mexico’s southern border to the United States, accompanied by civil protection officials and ambulances. Initially, around 3,500 people began their journey on Monday near the Guatemalan border, according to Mexican officials. However, recent estimates from organizers suggest the group has expanded to approximately 7,000.
Irineo Mujica, an organizer affiliated with the group “People Without Borders,” has emphasized that migrants often face unsanitary conditions, frequently resorting to living on the streets when detention centers become overcrowded while they wait for humanitarian visas from Mexican authorities.
Within Mexico’s overburdened immigration system, which has witnessed over 10,000 migrants reaching the U.S. border in one day, those seeking visas often endure waiting periods of weeks or even months. During those periods, they cannot engage in work.
The migrant caravan is more than 1,000 miles away; nevertheless, this development adds to the mounting pressure on the U.S. southern border.
The caravan coincides with an increase in migrants choosing a dangerous route through Panama’s Darién Gap.
Border officials have observed a surge in Chinese migrants. They have been guided by detailed social media posts from other Chinese migrants who have successfully completed the same journey.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that apprehensions of Chinese nationals at the U.S. southern border have surged to over 24,000 for fiscal year 2023, representing an 1,100% increase compared to the previous year.
The journey through the Darién Gap has become popular for Chinese migrants because they can enter Ecuador without a visa and then join Latin American migrant groups to make the trek north.
Friday, Nov. 3, President Biden is expected to host South American leaders for a summit on migration to reaffirm its commitment to cooperation on economic growth and addressing irregular migration.