A group of approximately 2,000 migrants departed from Mexico’s southern border on Sunday, aiming to reach the northern part of the country and eventually cross into the United States just weeks before the U.S. presidential election.
Many of the migrants are concerned about the potential for changes in U.S. immigration policies once a new administration is elected. The Associated Press reports on Venezuelan migrant Joel Zambrano, who expressed his worries about the future of the CBP One online system, which allows migrants to make asylum appointments in the U.S. “That is what makes us fearful. They say this could change because they could both close the CBP One appointment and all the services that are helping migrants,” he said.
For migrants like Zambrano, the CBP One system has become a lifeline for securing asylum appointments. However, delays in the scheduling process, combined with growing difficulties in finding employment in southern Mexico due to an influx of foreigners, have pushed more migrants to embark on long and risky journeys to northern Mexico.
The AP adds that this recent group is the largest to leave southern Mexico since Claudia Sheinbaum assumed office as Mexico’s president. Despite expectations that Sheinbaum might adjust immigration policies, her administration has so far continued with the strategies set by her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Previous migrant groups of around 800 and 600 people left earlier in October, but the current exodus marks a notable increase in size.
As the caravan moves northward, it adds pressure on both Mexican and U.S. authorities to address the growing immigration crisis. With the U.S. presidential election looming, the future of key immigration policies remains uncertain, fueling anxiety among migrants and making their journey even more precarious.
