Thousands of migrants, mainly from Central America and the Caribbean, departed southern Mexican on Christmas Eve 2023, heading north toward the United States. A BBC report estimated the caravan’s daily size at at least 7,000 people, with Haitian migrant Ysguel Jean expressing frustration in Tapachula and the desire to reach the United States. Large caravans crossed Mexico in 2018 and 2019, with record numbers attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in 2022.

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Migrant rights activist Luis Garcia Villagran emphasized that migrants shouldn’t be political tools in the upcoming U.S. election.

Departing from Tapachula, facing security forces, migrant Cristian Rivera hopes for permission to head north, highlighting challenges in deterring migration despite joint efforts by the U.S. and Mexico.

President López Obrador‘s deal in May to accept migrants appears insufficient as migration surges, impacting bilateral trade and sparking anti-migrant sentiments. Up to 10,000 daily arrests at the U.S. southwest border in December led to the suspension of cross-border rail traffic in Texas.

President López Obrador expressed willingness to work with the U.S., urging the easing of sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela. The U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will meet with López Obrador to discuss migration, but Mexico’s capacity to assist is limited due to a lack of funds. A halt in a program to repatriate migrants adds to the challenge, with over 680,000 living illegally and 137,000 seeking asylum in Mexico this year.