:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/JR4QNZTBPFE5LJGS26Q7WHQUUU.jpg "Stranded Venezuelan migrants roam southern Mexico following US-imposed restrictions.")
Venezuelan migrants have been stranded and now roam in the southern states of Mexico after the restrictions announced last week by the United States, which include the immediate deportation to Mexican territory of those who arrive by land. Municipal authorities of San Pedro Tapanatepec, Oaxaca, one of the main migratory stops in southern Mexico, report more than 8,000 foreigners stranded at the post set up by the National Migration Institute (INM) since last August, of which more than 80% they are Venezuelans in uncertainty.
An example is the group of 12 Venezuelans in which they travel Yarly and Antonio Rodriguezwho They have traveled more than 700 kilometers since they entered Mexicowhere a week ago they came across the new agreement between the Mexican and US governments to contain the migration of Venezuela.
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Along with four minors, both They left their native Venezuela on August 3 and entered Mexico 19 days later. through the municipality of Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas, bordering Guatemala.
From there they traveled 290 kilometers to the migratory post of San Pedro Tapanatepecwhere on October 4 they were granted a safe-conduct to remain in Mexican territory for seven days.
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Then they came to a crossroads of oaxaca capital, where they have asked motorists for money to pay for the trip and advance another section of the migratory route towards USA.
But on October 12 they were faced with the announcement of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)which contemplates 24,000 humanitarian permits for Venezuelans with sponsors who arrive by air, but the expulsion of those who arrive through the Mexican border.
Also, Antonio, who seeks to come to the United States to work as a laborer, has already expired his immigration permit from Mexico and he still has more than 3,000 kilometers to go to reach the northern border, where he seeks to enter the United States at all costs.
“This is a permit that they give you in San Pedro there in Tapanatepec, they give you seven days to leave the country, you can’t get out in seven days,” Antonio told EFE as he paused in his walk among the motorists, who gave him coins.
UNCERTAINTY AND ENDLESS FLOW
The measures are taken amid an increase in migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, who accounted for more than 55,000 of the undocumented immigrants found on the US border with Mexico in August, an annual increase of 175%.
Now, migrants passing through Mexico to the United States don’t know what to do, like Brian, who in Oaxaca carries a sign with the legend “Hello, little friend: Support us, please, we are Venezuelan migrants. God bless you”.
“It’s a small collaboration that we ask for because we don’t have money and we need to move forward, sometimes they give us and we appreciate it”, said Ernesto, another of the travelers in the group.
while in Tapachulaon the border with Guatemala, Venezuelans ask to be returned to their countryand in Ciudad Juárez, on the border with Texas, they sleep on the street in the midst of the first cold fronts, in Oaxaca they use signs so that motorists are aware of their situation.
“Hello, friends, we are Venezuelan migrants, God bless you”, read another makeshift sign on a carton of milk jugs, which Erika was holding at a red light.
WITHOUT DIRECTION
In the two hours that they have been on this cruise adjacent to federal highway 190, which crosses the entire country, one of them collected just 15 pesos (75 cents), with which he is looking to buy bus tickets, still aimlessly.
Five minors travel in the group, four girls between 3 and 5 years old and a 9-year-old boy.
Yarly, 23, is the mother of two of them and recounted the journey of drifting with her daughter.
“More difficult because you have to be aware of whether they eat or not eat, to change them, to bathe them”, express.
Source: Elcomercio
I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.
