The Mexican government is ramping up efforts to break up migrant caravans heading north. With less than two weeks until Trump’s inauguration, officials are trying to curb the flow.
To avoid steep tariffs threatened by the incoming administration, Mexico is scattering migrants throughout the country. Many are being dropped in Acapulco, a once-glamorous beach destination now plagued by crime.
Acapulco, once a jewel of Mexican tourism, is a shadow of its former self. Organized crime dominates, and the city still reels from the devastation of Hurricane Otis in 2023. It now has one of the nation’s highest murder rates.
Migrants arriving there face harsh conditions and little support. Buses drop them off with no clear path forward, leaving them stranded.
The government’s strategy is "dispersion and exhaustion." Migrants are made to walk for days before being offered transportation to cities where their immigration status is reviewed. Many feel deceived.
Some migrants shared their experiences with The Associated Press. They say officials promised they could continue toward the U.S. border but instead abandoned them in Acapulco.
Desperation is visible in the streets. Migrants sleep in tents and fear being targeted by drug cartels. Many also claim they are extorted by authorities.
"Immigration (officials) told us they were going to give us a permit to transit the country freely for 10, 15 days and it wasn't like that," said Ender Antonio Castañeda, a Venezuelan migrant. "They left us dumped here without any way to get out. They won’t sell us (bus) tickets. They won’t sell us anything."
Castañeda is one of thousands who left Tapachula, near the Guatemalan border, in hopes of reaching the U.S. Walking non-stop, it would take 16 days to reach the southern U.S. border at Matamoros. Traveling in caravans offers safety, making it harder for officials to stop large groups.
Mexico hopes its efforts will ease Trump’s pressure. The incoming president has threatened a 25% tariff on Mexican goods if the flow of migrants isn’t controlled.
Trump plans to clamp down hard on illegal crossings. Under his administration, deportations are expected to soar. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will lead the Department of Homeland Security, with Tom Homan serving as "Border Czar."
The new administration also plans to end parole programs introduced under Biden, closing "lawful pathways" used by many migrants. Trump reiterated his tough stance during a press briefing on Tuesday.
"Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country," Trump said. "We’re going to put very serious tariffs on Mexico and Canada… Substantial tariffs."