During a police operation on Friday in Tlacolula de Matamoros, located in the state of Oaxaca, authorities intercepted ten Cuban migrants along with one Venezuelan, all lacking proper immigration status in Mexico. The operation concluded with the apprehension of two individuals suspected of being human traffickers, as reported by officials.
While conducting routine surveillance in the area, officers from the State and Municipal Police became suspicious of a brown Chrysler vehicle with Tamaulipas plates on 26 de Septiembre Street. Upon pulling over the vehicle, they found 11 foreign nationals inside: ten of Cuban origin and one from Venezuela, according to a statement released by Oaxaca's Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC).
Authorities promptly arrested a man and a woman, identified by the initials MJPO and DAR, for their "probable involvement in human trafficking." These suspects were handed over to the Attorney General's Office (FGR), which will decide their legal status, the official report noted.
The rescued migrants were placed under the care of the National Institute of Migration (INM) to receive the "appropriate attention" for their individual cases.
Following the tightening of U.S. immigration policy with Donald Trump's return to the presidency, the flow of migrants through Mexico has sharply declined. In recent years, hundreds of thousands have arrived in Mexico, aiming to enter the United States.
According to INM statistics, between 2019 and 2025, over 16 million migrants passed through Mexico; of these, 10.5 million successfully entered the U.S., while 6.3 million opted to remain in Mexico.
Braving the risks and challenges of the migration journey, thousands of Cubans reached Mexico in the past five years, primarily intending to seek asylum in the United States. However, starting in January, due to border restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, many were forced to revise their plans, choosing Mexico as a destination rather than a transit point.
The current Cuban migration wave, the largest in the island's history, has been driven by economic and political turmoil, along with a lack of opportunities in Cuba.
Key Questions About the Mexican Migrant Interception
What led to the interception of the migrants in Oaxaca?
Police officers on a routine patrol grew suspicious of a vehicle with Tamaulipas plates, leading to the discovery of the migrants inside.
What will happen to the arrested suspects?
The suspects, identified as MJPO and DAR, were handed over to the Attorney General's Office to determine their legal status concerning human trafficking charges.
How has U.S. policy affected migrant flows through Mexico?
The stricter immigration policies under Donald Trump's administration have resulted in a significant decrease in the number of migrants traveling through Mexico.