Migrants Cubans Halted Chiapas Mexico Elections

Migrant caravan stopped in Chiapas ahead of Mexican elections, facing deception and setbacks from authorities. International implications and challenges highlighted.

The National Institute of Migration (INM) and the National Guard (GN) joined forces in a highway operation in Chiapas to halt a caravan of migrants, including Cubans, ahead of Mexico's upcoming presidential elections. The caravan, made up of hundreds of migrants from Cuba, Central America, and Venezuela, set out from the southern border to exert pressure on authorities. They made a stop in Huixtla, near Tapachula, the largest city in Mexico close to the Guatemala border.

During the operation on the Villa Comaltitlán-Huixtla highway, several Venezuelans surrendered to migration authorities after being promised assistance. A Cuban migrant, speaking anonymously out of fear, accused the INM agents of deception, claiming they were promised relocation but instead detained.

One Honduran migrant, Gaby, recounted how agents tried to engage in a condescending dialogue and offered transportation to Huixtla, which they refused, opting to continue on foot. As Mexico prepared for the elections, many families were sent back to Tapachula, while those who had reached Mexico City were also turned back, disrupting the progress migrants had made.

Juan, another Honduran migrant, vowed that the caravan would press on despite INM's efforts to stop them. Mexican authorities have ramped up security operations ahead of the elections, with over 98 million voters set to participate in renewing thousands of positions, including the presidency and Congress.

The Mexican government has seen a significant increase in detecting irregular migrants, intercepting over 360,000 in the first quarter of 2024. Sources revealed that the White House is considering measures to limit asylum applications and deny entry to immigrants once a daily threshold is exceeded. President Joe Biden may sign an executive order to this effect soon.

Efforts by Mexico and the U.S. have led to a decrease in illegal crossings at the border, with both presidents pledging to reduce irregular migrant crossings through bilateral cooperation. The joint commitment to strengthen collaboration for the benefit of both nations was reiterated during a phone call between Joe Biden and Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

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