Edgar H. Clemente
Correspondent
La Jornada Newspaper
Sunday, December 22, 2024, p. 5
Tapachula, Chis., A hundred members of the migrant caravan that left Tapachula on November 18 were detained by elements of the National Migration Institute (INM) as they advanced along the coast of Chiapas and they were returned to the aforementioned town.
The foreigners claimed that elements of the INM deceived them when they were walking through the municipality of Huehuetán. They offered them help and granted them a transit permit, but instead they were taken to the Siglo XXI immigration station, where they were detained for more than 48 hours.
They had us like prisoners. They took our phones and bags and put them away; They only gave us one call a day. Meals were three times a day; They threw us into a patio, we covered ourselves with aluminum sheets. It’s like we’re in a prison
said Venezuelan Julio Mendoza.
The South American added that he suffered abuse and mistreatment during his stay in the federal building.
“Mexico doesn’t like marches (caravans), that’s what they told us. We asked them why the process took so long and they (the INM agents) answered us: ‘You guys, where were you born, here in Mexico or in another country? There you have your answer.’ “They responded badly to us, they treated us badly,” he said.
Threats
He added that when they demanded their rights, they threatened to retain them for longer.
Meanwhile, two other caravans of migrants advance along the Chiapas coast in search of reaching central and northern Mexico.
One that left on December 12 was located yesterday in the municipality of Pijijiapan, where they protested in front of the mayor’s office to demand transit documents that would allow them to board a bus, since they no longer want to walk because there are many sick and injured people. feet, mainly women and children.
The second contingent was in Escuintla, getting ready to continue at night towards the municipality of Mapastepec.
Between October and so far in December, some 13,500 migrants have left the southern border in nine caravans. Its members intend to reach the United States before Donald Trump assumes the presidency, for fear that he will close the border with Mexico and put an end to their access possibilities.
