A vibrant caravan of approximately 1,200 migrants, predominantly Cubans, has set out from the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, boldly charting a course north toward Mexico City instead of the United States. This shift comes as the Trump administration’s ironclad border policies reshape the region’s migration landscape.
Kicking off their journey in early October, the group faces a weeks-long trek to reach Mexico’s bustling capital. For many, the allure of Mexico City lies in its promise of better-paying jobs compared to Tapachula, a city in Mexico’s poorest state, grappling with a relentless migrant crisis driven by poverty and gang violence. The migrants’ decision reflects a growing trend: Mexico is increasingly seen as a land of opportunity, not just a stepping stone to the U.S.
Taking to social media, caravan members are amplifying their voices, pleading with the Mexican government for streamlined asylum processes to help them settle in the capital. “Why would I want to go to the United States? They hate us there,” a Cuban mother traveling with her two children told El País, her words capturing the disillusionment felt by many.
The Trump administration’s unyielding stance on immigration has drastically curbed U.S. border crossings, with Customs and Border Protection reporting encounters at levels unseen since the 1960s, according to the Migration Policy Institute. This crackdown is reshaping migrants’ plans, pushing them to seek new futures elsewhere.
Elaine Dezenski, senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Center on Economic and Financial Power, told Fox News that Mexico is emerging as a primary destination. “The International Organization for Migration found that about 50% of migrants surveyed across Mexico in mid-2025 now see Mexico as their endpoint—up from less than 25% at the
