Among the throngs of migrants currently overwhelming the offices of the National Institute of Migration (INM) at Mexico's southern border, attempting to speed up their CBP One appointments for asylum requests in the United States ahead of the upcoming elections, are a significant number of Cubans.
César Augusto Cañaveral Pérez, who coordinates the Human Mobility Pastoral in Tapachula, informed EFE news agency that the primary groups are from Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, though there are migrants from other nations as well. A Nicaraguan migrant, Nelson Armando Cruz, highlighted that while these three nationalities are prominent, there are also a few Central Americans seeking better opportunities in Mexico and the United States.
Challenges and Gratitude Amidst Chaos
"You see the dictatorship, you know how things are globally... in Nicaragua, they are even imprisoning bishops," Cruz expressed, extending gratitude to the Mexican people for their hospitality. The chaos largely stems from the demand for the CBP One app, which has led to a surge in migration through this region, Cañaveral Pérez explained.
This surge is mainly because procedures that used to be carried out in the United States are now being handled at the INM offices in Tapachula, Chiapas. Adding to the turmoil, there has been an increase in deaths and extortion targeting migrants, as organized crime and violence have intensified in the area, causing many foreigners to halt their journey.
Increasing Cuban Migration Statistics
In September of this year, over 9,000 Cubans made their way to the United States, according to data from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The specific number, 9,315, marked September as having the lowest entries in the recently completed fiscal year (FY 2024), which spanned from October 2023 to September 2024. By contrast, August saw 11,742 entries.
Globally, 217,615 Cubans were processed by CBP and entered the U.S. during FY 2024. This figure stands as the second-highest since 2021, narrowly exceeded by the record of 224,607 in fiscal year 2022.