The plight of Cuban immigrant Bárbara Güero in Mexico’s border town of Tapachula is reflective of the hardships experienced by many migrants in the region. She arrived in the city seven months prior, with the dream of eventually making her way to the United States. Despite being in Tapachula for several months, Güero is yet to formalize her immigration status or find steady employment, thanks to complications with her email, which obstructed the timely completion of necessary documents. Consequently, she was pushed to commence the process anew.
“In Mexico, I have been treated with kindness, but the quest for work has been arduous. My advanced age might be a limiting factor, as I have yet to find a job despite exploring various avenues,” Güero revealed. Unable to find regular employment, she has succumbed to cleaning houses in order to buy food. She stated, “I face rebuke, but I choose this over the prospect of losing my independence if I go back to Cuba.”
Güero’s predicament resonates with countless other migrants stranded in transition, following the termination of the CBP One and humanitarian parole programs by ex-President Donald Trump. Many Latin Americans, who had envisioned securing transit permits to journey to the U.S. via Mexico, have instead become rooted in the country and are attempting to build new lives there.
The article additionally draws attention to the case of Herlinda Montoya, a Honduran national who has lived in Tapachula undocumented for half a year. Montoya remarked, “The most grueling part is the hunt for work and acquisition of necessary documents. We hold onto the hope of receiving assistance to ameliorate our family’s conditions.” With no stable job, her spouse has taken up work in the construction sector to make ends meet.
Although there’s been a noteworthy decline in the influx of migrants to Tapachula, the city still harbors thousands who remain in unresolved circumstances. As per statistics shared by Mexican officials, the monthly average of migrants pouring into Tapachula during the initial four months of 2024 amounted to more than 13,000. However, this figure fell to under 2,000 per month during the same timeframe in the following year.
Undocumented immigrants, primarily from Cuba, are stuck in a lengthy waiting game for asylum decisions, their lives hanging in balance. Many have spent over six months in this perplexing state and may even have to endure it for another year or more. With limited resources and unable to get formal work, these individuals revert to casual, informal jobs to make ends meet.
Migrants without work contracts often find themselves laboring for up to 12 hours daily, bringing in a meager income that fluctuates between 1,500 (equivalent to 78 USD) and 2,000 Mexican pesos on a fortnightly or monthly basis. Most of the job opportunities available fall within the domains of customer service, cleaning, or construction.
Securing a formal job and regularizing their immigration status pose considerable obstacles for migrants in Tapachula. A significant number are caught in a predicament due to lack of proper documents required for formal employment — forcing them into irregular jobs as a survival tactic.
Changes in U.S. immigration policies, particularly the dissolution of the CBP One and humanitarian parole programs, have contributed to the decrease in migrant arrivals to Tapachula. These policy alterations have left many immigrants lost, without a concrete pathway to the United States.
While lobbying for asylum, many immigrants in Tapachula often resort to informal labor to make a living. Jobs in cleaning services, construction, or in local businesses serve as a lifeline until a decision on their applications is made.
In figuring out the nuances of local labor dynamics, they’re shaping a novel yet uncertain life in Mexico. It’s a difficult path, marked by constant adaptation, risk, and an unending quest for stability and security.
It’s a struggle to survive, a constant maneuvering for better opportunities, and at the same time, an intense wait for document regularization and an affirmation of their right to be there.
While pursuing these goals, migrants are constantly aware that their hopes for a better life rest on not just their individual endeavors, but also political factors beyond their control, particularly immigration policies.
Hence, the narration of Bárbara Güero and Herlinda Montoya underlines the plight of many immigrants in Tapachula, stuck in an indefinite cycle of undocumented status, underemployment, and an uncertain future due to immigration laws.
Despite these hurdles and the unknown future, these immigrants persist, hoping for a positive resolution to their sordid circumstances — a testament to the human spirit’s resilience.