Key Takeaways:
• About 2,000 migrants left Mexico’s southern border aiming for the U.S., weeks ahead of the American presidential election.
• Fear of changes to the U.S. online asylum system, along with economic challenges in Mexico and amid U.S. asylum delays, drives migrant movement.
• This is the third and largest group since the start of new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term.
• An estimated 40,000 migrants are currently in limbo in southern Mexico.
• Many migrants in a U.S. sponsorship program face expiration of their legal status, as the current administration has opted not to extend their coverage.
Record Migration Amid Political Unrest
In a significant development, a large group of around 2,000 migrants departed from Mexico’s southern border on Sunday planning to reach the United States. Their exodus comes amidst the political buzz in the U.S. for the forthcoming presidential election, where immigration issues have emerged as a pivotal agenda.
Asylum Apprehensions Stirring Anxiety
Several migrants have voiced their anxiety over potential changes to the United States’ immigration policy, especially as it pertains to asylum appointments conducted via the online platform, CBP One. Venezuelan migrant, Joel Zambrano, expressed worries about potential closures of the CBP One appointment system and other supportive services that help immigrants.
Lack of Jobs and Asylum Delays Fuel Migration
Southern Mexico is currently experiencing a significant economic downturn owing to an influx of foreigners, leading to job shortages. Coupled with delays in U.S. asylum appointments, these conditions have spurred larger migrant groups to depart from the region over the past month.
Stating his hardships, Honduran national, Roberto Domínguez, revealed the bureaucratic issues they encounter in Tapachula, where they are bound to stay until they secure the necessary documents.
Mexico’s New Leadership Remains Unchanged on Migration
The group of migrants that embarked on Sunday was the third and the largest since the inauguration of Mexico’s new President, Claudia Sheinbaum. Despite taking over from her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum has made no changes to the country’s existing immigration policies. Previous groups of 800 and 600 migrants had left the region earlier in October.
Significantly sized groups of migrants reportedly remain stranded in southern Mexico, with activist Luis García Villagrán estimating the number to be around 40,000.
Migration Trends Amid New U.S. Immigration Policies
In a move that potentially affects thousands, the Biden administration recently announced new regulations to reaffirm the partial asylum ban initially implemented in June at the U.S. southern border. Zenith officials see these regulations as a key factor in reducing the number of illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border this year.
The Biden administration’s decision not to extend coverage for migrants who arrived through a specific sponsorship program designed to decrease illegal border crossings is also set to impact many. A considerable number of Haitians, Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans, who had arrived in the U.S. to live and work legally for two years under the parole immigration law, are set to lose their legal statuses by the end of October.
As the U.S. gears up for its presidential election, these recent developments surrounding immigration have sparked a dialogue among citizens, politicians, and human rights advocates alike. As the tide of migration continues to rise and policies fluctuate, the journey towards a comprehensive solution remains complex and challenging.