Migrants trek north through Mexico, buoyed by US election result

Migrants from various Latin American countries embarked on a journey northward through southern Mexico on Wednesday, part of a caravan dubbed "God With Us." This group, estimated to consist of around 1,500 individuals, primarily families, was spurred by the Democratic victory in the US midterm elections, which raised hopes that US immigration policies might become more accommodating. The caravan began its trek from Tapachula, a city near the Guatemala border, in Mexico.

The migrants, carrying belongings in backpacks, small children in arms or strollers, and on their shoulders, emphasized the scarcity of jobs, healthcare, and schools in Tapachula, a common transit point for Central American migrants heading to the United States due to US entry restrictions and deportations. The caravan's participants, mostly from Central America, expressed optimism about the political shift in the US, believing it could pave a way for them to live and work in the country.

Cesar Sandoval, a 47-year-old Nicaraguan deported from the US, stated, "We believe the Democrats will help us... with God's help." The group aims to reach Mexico City, over 1,000 kilometers away, to seek assistance from the Mexican federal government and protection while traveling towards the US border. The journey to the capital could take several weeks, and the migrants carried water to cope with the hot temperatures typical of southern Mexico.

Several migrants shared their stories, revealing that many had experienced kidnapping or other crimes in Mexico and sought asylum in the US. Billy Noe Martinez, a Honduran migrant who survived a 2010 massacre of 72 migrants in Tamaulipas, expressed his plea: "For 16 years, I have carried this nightmare in my head. I only ask that the President (Claudia Sheinbaum) be moved and allow us to move forward."

Despite the migrants' hopes for a more welcoming US, analysts noted that potential policy changes are unlikely to be swift, as long as President Trump remains in office.