Migrant caravan heads for U.S. amid policy fears

A new migrant caravan comprising roughly 1,500 people departed from Tapachula, southern Mexico, heading toward the United States border. The group, consisting mainly of Central and South American migrants, aims to reach the US before President-elect Donald Trump's January inauguration, fearing stricter immigration policies under his administration.

The migrants departed from Tapachula, near the Guatemala border, where thousands remain stranded without permission to travel further into Mexico. The group is hoping to leverage the current CBP-ONE asylum appointment system while it remains operational, as Trump has promised to end the program, reduce legal pathways, and implement mass deportations.

The CBP-ONE app, which provides approximately 1,450 daily appointments for orderly asylum claims, was recently extended to southern Mexico in an attempt to manage migration flows. However, many migrants prefer positioning themselves closer to the border to avoid missing potential appointments.

The journey ahead is treacherous, spanning over 1,100 miles to the nearest border crossing at Matamoros. Migrants face multiple challenges, including extreme heat, dehydration, and threats from drug cartels involved in human trafficking. The cartels often extort migrants or kidnap them for ransom.

Caravans, which began forming in 2018, represent a last resort for migrants who cannot afford smugglers. While traveling in large groups provides some protection against detention by immigration authorities, most caravans historically disperse within 150 miles. Previous Mexican government assistance with transportation has decreased due to border community backlash.

As this latest caravan moves forward, it represents yet another chapter in the ongoing humanitarian challenge at the U.S.-Mexico border, where policy changes, human desperation, and security concerns continue to intersect.