A Cuban immigrant has been stranded in Monclova, a city in the Mexican state of Coahuila, for nine months after losing his legal documents in Mexico. Joan Jacinto Rodríguez Torres shared in an interview with Periódico La Voz that he has given up on emigrating to the United States since losing his papers and is now striving to build a future in the Mexican city that has taken him in.
At 37 years old, Joan earns a living by washing cars. He dreams of saving enough money to improve his life and support his family back in Cuba. Joan left the island on January 20, 2023, traversing several Latin American countries mostly on foot. His goal was to reach the United States border upon arriving in Mexico.
While in Chiapas, he obtained a temporary transit permit from the National Institute of Migration (INM), but his aspiration to cross the border was thwarted upon reaching Coahuila. Migration authorities warned him that if he continued his journey, he would be deported. Since then, he has remained in Monclova.
Struggling to Make Ends Meet
Joan's income barely covers his daily expenses. He must spend 200 pesos per day on hotel accommodation, leaving little for food, which prevents him from saving enough to rent a place or find a more stable job. Despite these hardships, Joan is grateful to the residents of Monclova, who have been kinder than those in other parts of Mexico and Latin America he passed through.
The Cuban has experience in construction, electrical work, and other trades, fueling his hope of finding a job that will improve his situation. Although he has abandoned the idea of going to the United States, he remains confident that he can establish himself in Monclova and earn enough to help his family.
Monclova's Community Support
"They know I'm in Mexico, but I can't send them money because I'm barely surviving," Joan confessed, holding onto hope for a better future. Joan's plight is not unique. As of September 2024, over 11,000 Cubans have applied for asylum in Mexico, according to data from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR).
Many are waiting for an opportunity to enter the United States legally, but others, like Joan, have decided to settle in Mexico, even though it was not their original dream.