A caravan of roughly 1,200 migrants has departed the southern Mexican city of Tapachula and is heading north toward Mexico City rather than the United States, amid the Trump administration’s tightened border policies.
The group, made mostly of Cubans, began its journey in early October and is expected to take several weeks to reach the capital. Many of the migrants say they are seeking higher-paying jobs in Mexico City, which offers better economic opportunities than Tapachula, located in Mexico’s poorest state. The southern region has struggled to manage an ongoing migrant crisis fueled by poverty and gang violence.
Participants in the caravan have turned to social media to urge the Mexican government to assist with asylum applications for those hoping to settle in the capital. Several migrants have said they no longer see the United States as a viable destination under the current political climate.
“Why would I want to go to the United States? They hate us there,” a Cuban woman traveling with two children told the Spanish outlet El País.
US border encounters have dropped sharply as the Trump administration maintains a firm stance on immigration. Customs and Border Protection data shows that southern border crossings have fallen to levels not seen since the 1960s, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
Elaine Dezenski, senior director and head of the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News that migrants are increasingly viewing Mexico as their final destination.
“According to the International Organization for Migration, about 50% of migrants surveyed across Mexico in mid-2025 said they considered Mexico their destination – up from less than 25% at the end of 2024,” she said. “This suggests that increased U.S. border enforcement and deportations are influencing migrants’ choices, with more seeking asylum and work authorization in Mexico instead of continuing to the U.S.”
