Migrants, including Cubans, were stopped in Chiapas ahead of Mexico’s elections

The National Institute for Migration (INM) and the National Guard (GN) carried out a highway operation this Saturday in the state of Chiapas to stop a caravan of hundreds of migrants, including Cubans, due to the upcoming presidential elections this Sunday in Mexico.

The caravan, consisting of hundreds of migrants from Cuba, Central AmericaAnd Venezuela, left the southern border with the aim of putting pressure on the authorities. He stopped in Huixtla, about 25 miles from Tapachula, Mexico’s largest city near the border Guatemalareports EFE, quoted by the news portal El Imparcial.

During the operation on the Villa Comaltitlán-Huixtla highway section, at least four Venezuelans surrendered to migration authorities after officers promised help. A Cuban migrant, who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisals, claimed that INM agents had previously “deceived” them. They were promised a move to other cities, but were detained instead.

“They want to send us back again; they don’t want us to move on,” the migrant claimed.

According to the testimony of a Honduran migrant named Gaby, the officers tried to engage in condescending dialogue and offered them transportation to Huixtla. However, they rejected the proposal and decided to walk further, as reported by the telegraphic dispatch.

Last Saturday, on the eve of Mexico’s elections, INM agents returned many families to Tapachula, while others who had already arrived Mexico City were also sent back, the Honduran woman added. Instead of helping them move forward, they are reversing the entire process that migrants have carried out so far, she points out.

Furthermore, Juan, from Honduras, accused the INM of stopping them, but warned that the caravan would move on as quickly as possible.

“All migrants are together; we will stick together in the name of Jesus Christ. It has become difficult because of the water and the children. If they really want to help us, they should not separate from the caravan and come with us wherever they want. we are going, and let the National Guard go with us,” he emphasized.

Mexican authorities have stepped up security operations on highways and the southern border ahead of Sunday’s elections, which will be the largest in the country’s history with more than 98 million voters called to renew more than 20,000 positions, including the presidency and Congress, according to EFE.

The Mexican government has increased detection of irregular migrants by almost 200% annually in the first quarter of 2024, with more than 360,000 migrants intercepted. Four sources familiar with the issue of migration to the United States confirmed last Thursday that the White House is preparing drastic measures at the border with Mexico, which would limit asylum applications and automatically deny entry to immigrants once the number of detainees by US border agents crosses a border . new daily threshold.

They stated that the president Joe Biden According to The Associated Press (AP), the executive order could be signed this Tuesday. The sources acknowledged that the number of illegal crossings at the border between the two countries has declined in recent months, largely due to Mexico’s intensified efforts.

In April, the presidents of the United States and Mexico announced they would take immediate action to “significantly” reduce the number of irregular migrants at the border between the two countries. Joe Biden and Andrés Manuel López Obrador have issued a joint statement saying they spoke by telephone on Sunday, April 28, about their continued commitment to strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation for the benefit of their peoples.