In recent months, the dangers faced by migrants crossing Mexico have escalated, particularly highlighted by the efforts of a dedicated group in Veracruz known as Las Patronas.
For three decades, as laws regarding Central American migrants have become more stringent, Las Patronas has consistently provided humanitarian aid to those passing through their community.
Every day, these volunteers prepare meals featuring rice, beans, tortillas, bread, canned tuna, and water for the migrants.
When La Bestia approaches, they rush to the tracks to offer food to migrants traveling precariously on the train’s roof.
“Gracias! God bless you!” exclaims the migrants, calling out amidst the loud roar of the train, grateful for this fleeting moment of kindness on one of the world’s most hazardous journeys.
However, many migrants face overwhelming obstacles in their quest to reach the north.
This year, Mexican authorities have intercepted approximately three times the number of migrants entering from Central America compared to last year. The monthly total of 280,000 interdictions has drawn approval from various stakeholders in Washington, yet has significantly impacted the lives of those on the move.
“The American Dream for many has transformed into a nightmare,” states Norma Romero, the founder of Las Patronas.
With the recent election of Mexico’s first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, set to take office soon, and the United States gearing up for a pivotal election cycle, the political landscape is at a critical juncture.
Despite these changes, Norma remains skeptical. “I don’t place my hope in politics. I believe in the ability of everyday people to drive change,” she asserts while her fellow volunteers prepare meals for the migrants.
Norma expresses concern that a female leader may not alter the reality for migrants, noting, “Unfortunately, there has been no significant improvement in the treatment of migrants throughout the years.”
Ten years ago, Norma witnessed a surge of migrants escaping violence and hardship in search of a better life in the U.S. The situation has only worsened.
Learned attitudes toward migration have shifted in Mexico, with current policies focused on detaining those attempting the journey north than previously seen when migrants were simply passing through.
The topic of undocumented immigration is now a hot-button issue as the U.S. approaches the upcoming elections.
President Joe Biden’s recent executive order empowers Border Patrol to deport individuals who illegally cross the border without processing asylum requests, resulting in a 40% drop in detentions within just four weeks.
Las Patronas has noted a decline in the number of migrants on the trains, speculating they are opting for alternate routes, such as buses or on foot.
Yet they remain largely uninformed about U.S. policy changes and the hurdles ahead: “Migrants lack essential knowledge about traveling through Mexico,” laments Norma. “We prioritize their wellbeing as fellow human beings.”
Las Patronas also offer a shelter for exhausted migrants, providing meals, resting accommodations, and medical care.
Among the weary travelers is Guadalupe, a Salvadoran migrant journeying with her daughter, Nicole. They are determined to avoid La Bestia after being forcibly removed by immigration officers twice.
Her past experiences with officials, she recounts, were brutal.
“They physically assaulted many in our group and used tasers on others. The fear we experienced was overwhelming,” she says of their ordeal in Mexico.
Due to threats of violence, extortion, and abuse from drug cartels, traversing Mexico remains particularly treacherous for migrants whose journeys often begin in distant regions, such as the Andes or Caribbean.
Often, they face extortion from migration officials tasked with enforcing the very laws meant to protect them.
“When taken off the train, many immigration agents demand bribes. If we can pay, we pass. Otherwise, we find ourselves sent back to the Guatemalan border, which was devastating,” explains Guadalupe.
Mexican authorities have worked to limit the number of migrants reaching the U.S., with recent statements from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador emphasizing a lack of current immigration crisis, urging for U.S. support in Central American development to deter migration.
Rather than deportations, Mexican strategies feature ‘internal removals,’ effectively leaving migrants in towns near the Guatemalan border, thousands of kilometers from the U.S. border.
This tactic drains migrants both financially and physically. Guadalupe compares it to the game of snakes and ladders: “If you aren’t careful, you’ll find yourself back at square one, facing the same hurdles,” she warns.
As another train approaches, Guadalupe joins Norma and the other volunteers in taking food to the tracks.
Regardless of U.S. election outcomes or changes in leadership in Mexico, Las Patronas will continue to support migrants as long as they pass through.
