A Policy of Dispersal, Uncertainty, and Potential Exploitation

A Closer Look

The Mexican government is actively working to disperse migrant caravans attempting to reach the U.S. border before President-elect Trump's inauguration. Facing potential tariffs under the new administration, Mexico has adopted a strategy of "dispersion and exhaustion," aiming to reduce the number of migrants reaching the U.S.

This policy involves dispersing migrants throughout the country, including locations like Acapulco, a once-popular tourist destination now struggling with organized crime and the aftermath of Hurricane Otis. Migrants are often left with little support and few options, forced to walk for days until exhausted before being offered bus rides to various cities where their immigration status is supposedly reviewed.

However, many migrants report feeling abandoned, with authorities failing to provide promised permits for free transit. They are left vulnerable to extortion and kidnapping by cartels, with some even claiming authorities themselves engage in extortion.

This situation highlights the complex challenges surrounding migration and the potential consequences of policies aimed at deterring border crossings. While Mexico's efforts may appease the incoming administration, they leave migrants in precarious situations, exposed to exploitation and uncertainty.