A 1,200-person caravan of largely Cuban migrants is heading north from Mexico’s southern city of Tapachula in a weeks-long pursuit of better economic opportunities. But the destination is not the U.S. border, it’s Mexico City, signaling a significant shift in regional migration trends. This movement is largely influenced by President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies, which have made the U.S. increasingly inaccessible for many migrants.
According to the Washington Office on Latin America, the group of migrants is using social media to petition the Mexican government for assistance with asylum cases and proper documentation for people looking to officially reside in Mexico City. Despite concerns over financial abuse in attempting to relocate, many migrants still consider staying in Mexico preferable to heading to the U.S. under Trump. One Cuban woman traveling with her 2-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son told the news outlet, ‘Why would I want to go to the United States? They hate us there.’
While immigration to the U.S. under Trump has drastically dropped, the decision by Cuban migrants not to pursue life in the U.S. where there are already established communities in places like Florida and New York is significant. Elaine Dezenski, senior director and head of the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that the International Organization for Migration reports 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. This suggests 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.
In the months since Trump returned to the top job, encounters on the southern border reported by Customs and Border Protection have drastically fallen compared to rates seen in years past. Earlier this year, the Migration Policy Institute noted that monthly southern border encounters were on par with rates not seen since the 1960s. Dezenski warned that even though the control of undocumented migration into the U.S. will be championed by some as a positive adjustment when it comes to border security, there are ‘serious conversations’ that need to be had about the role immigration plays in maintaining a healthy economy. The lack of comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. risks leaving many jobs unfilled, particularly in industries that rely heavily on migrant labor, such as agriculture.
El Pais reported last week that corruption and extortion remain a top concern for migrants looking for relocation assistance. The report said the issue remains one of the chief obstacles plaguing the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance. While the caravan is a response to Trump’s policies, it also highlights the persistent challenges migrants face in both countries, underscoring the need for a more comprehensive approach to migration and labor issues in the region.