Migrants Begin March from Tapachula
Approximately 1,200 migrants began a protest march from Tapachula, a city in southern Mexico near the Guatemalan border, on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The group set out before dawn, aiming to reach Mexico City. Their primary objectives are to legalize their immigration status within Mexico and find viable work opportunities, which they report are severely lacking in the southern border region.
Diverse Nationalities Seek Mexican Asylum
The majority of the marching migrants are Cubans, but the group also includes individuals from Honduras, Ecuador, Brazil, and Haiti. Unlike many previous migrant caravans that sought to reach the United States, this group, and others over the past year, are specifically focused on obtaining legal residency and asylum in Mexico. Migrants expressed deep frustration with the slow processing times for asylum applications and the high cost of living in Tapachula, where many have been confined for months.
Frustration with Bureaucracy and Limited Prospects
Migrants report significant challenges in Tapachula, including bureaucratic delays in processing their asylum claims through Mexico's asylum agency, Comar. Individuals like Losiel Sánchez, a Cuban migrant, stated they have waited months for answers regarding their status despite numerous visits to Comar offices. The lack of legal papers makes it difficult to secure formal employment, forcing many into precarious situations. One migrant noted, 'There's no work, they don't want to give you work if you don't have papers.' The march appears to have been organized organically through social media platforms by frustrated migrants seeking to leave southern Mexico.
Shifting Focus from U.S. to Mexican Integration
A notable aspect of this and recent migrant movements is a shift in their ultimate destination. Many migrants are no longer primarily seeking to reach the United States, but rather to establish a life in Mexico. This change is partly attributed to stricter U.S. immigration policies, including the ending of programs like CBP One, which had offered a pathway for some to cross the U.S. border. While Mexico's asylum policies can be generous, with a reported 72% approval rate, the practical challenges of obtaining legal status and finding work, particularly in border states like Chiapas, remain significant hurdles. Migrants are often required to remain in the state where they submit their application, exacerbating the problem of limited opportunities in Tapachula.
5 Comments
Comandante
Mexico has its own problems. We can't just absorb everyone who shows up demanding things.
Africa
It's heartbreaking to hear about their struggles in Tapachula. They deserve humane treatment.
Manolo Noriega
They want to work and contribute. That's a positive for any country.
Fuerza
Their desperation for work is clear, and no one should be forced into precarious labor. Still, Mexico City isn't a magical solution, and without proper planning, this influx could lead to new challenges for the migrants there.
Ongania
It's a tough situation; people are seeking basic opportunities, yet Mexico also has its own economic challenges and capacity limits. There needs to be a balance between humanitarian aid and national resource management.