A Cuban migrant robbed a cell phone store in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, making off with 80 phones after allegedly intimidating an employee with a firearm and locking her in a storage room.
The suspect acted alone in the heist at the Macropay store, located on Himno Nacional Street in downtown Tizayuca, according to news outlets that published a surveillance camera image of the individual. Preliminary reports indicated that the Cuban migrant entered the store pretending to be a customer, then allegedly threatened the employee with a firearm and forced her to open the storage room, from which he took around 80 mobile devices.
The assailant left the employee locked in the storage room and fled with "a large flowered bag" containing the phones, according to the site Conectados IM. The employee managed to escape from the storage room and alerted the Municipal Police, who began searching for the thief in the vicinity but were unable to locate him.
At this time, the police are continuing the search for the fugitive using Tizayuca's surveillance cameras.
Recent Incidents Involving Cuban Migrants
In February, two young Cubans were arrested in Mexico City after being caught by police attempting to steal several items from a supermarket. In June, the Yucatan State Police detained a Cuban who injured a Federal Electricity Commission employee with a knife following a dispute in a store in the city of Progreso.
In recent years, the presence of Cuban migrants in Mexico has increased, with the vast majority staying temporarily in the country while attempting to reach the U.S. border to seek asylum. According to statistics from the National Institute of Migration (INM), 27,404 irregular Cuban migrants were detected in Mexico during the first five months of the year.
From January to June 2024, 8,833 Cubans with irregular migration status requested protection from Mexican authorities on their journey to the U.S., reported the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). Since 2019, a total of 68,188 Cubans have arrived in Mexico and applied for refugee status.
Key Questions About Cuban Migrants in Mexico
Given the rising number of Cuban migrants in Mexico and the associated incidents, here are some frequently asked questions to provide more clarity on the situation.
Why are so many Cuban migrants in Mexico?
Many Cuban migrants use Mexico as a transit country while attempting to reach the United States to seek asylum.
How many Cubans have applied for refugee status in Mexico?
Since 2019, 68,188 Cubans have applied for refugee status in Mexico.
What actions are Mexican authorities taking regarding these migrants?
Mexican authorities are monitoring and detaining irregular migrants while providing protection to those seeking asylum.