Around 1,500 people formed a new “caravan” on Wednesday in southern Mexico, grouping together to try reach the U.S. border by foot or by hitching rides with vehicles before Donald Trump takes office again in January, according to AP. Trump has pledged to launch “the largest deportation program in American history” on day one of his administration.
Most of the migrants are reportedly from Central and South America. They began their journey from Tapachula, a city near the Guatemalan border, where thousands of migrants have been stuck–blocked from moving further because they lack permission to travel further into Mexico.
Despite a 76% decrease in daily detentions at the U.S. border since December last year, irregular migration through Mexico has hit a record high, having increased by 193% since last year, according to a report by Mexico’s Migration Policy Unit. Over 712,000 illegal migrants have been recorded in Mexico.
Migrant caravans began forming in 2018 as a way for people who can’t afford to pay smugglers to travel together for safety. By moving in large groups, migrants can also avoid being detained by authorities, which typically target smaller groups. However, the caravans often fall apart after a few hundred miles.
In previous years, Mexican authorities assisted many migrants in caravans by arranging buses to border cities. However, in more recent caravans, migrants have relied on hitchhiking or paid rides, though this has become harder as Mexican authorities under pressure from the US now discourage such travel. Often, authorities issue temporary permits to disperse the caravans.
Although these caravans are a reflection of people trying to flee various humanitarian crises, political unrest, and/or economic hardship, including asylum seekers, illegal immigration remains an issue fraught with tension between Mexico and the United States.