Mexico’s Migrant Bottleneck: A Struggle for Asylum

As U.S. President Donald Trump’s strict anti-immigration measures resume, thousands of migrants become stuck in Tapachula, Mexico, close to the Guatemalan border. With asylum requests up by 20 %, many face an unclear future while they try to change their status.

A City Overwhelmed by Migration

Tapachula, in Mexico’s southern state of Chiapas, has long been a key transit point for migrants heading north. But with the reinstatement of Trump’s hardline immigration measures—mass deportations, border shutdowns, and the termination of the CBP One asylum application system—thousands have been left stranded. Many of these migrants, primarily from Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador, and Central America, now seek permanent residence in Mexico, unable to continue their journey to the United States.

According to Brigada Callejera de Apoyo a la Mujer “Elisa Martínez,” a humanitarian organization, the number of migrants settling in Tapachula has risen by 20% compared to the previous year. Some, particularly women, have resorted to sex work as a means of survival, highlighting the dire economic conditions they face.

“We’re seeing more migrants staying in Tapachula, either because they’ve given up on reaching the U.S. or because they have no other choice,” explained Cristian Gómez Fuentes, a coordinator for the organization. “Many have returned to their home countries, but others have no option but to remain here and find ways to sustain themselves.”

The influx has placed immense strain on the city’s already-overburdened refugee system. Long lines snake outside the offices of the Comisión Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados (COMAR), the Mexican government agency responsible for asylum applications. Desperate for a chance to obtain legal status, migrants arrive daily, waiting for hours just to schedule an eligibility interview.

A COMAR official, using a loudspeaker to maintain order, informed the crowd: “Please have your documents ready. We are scheduling interviews for those with appointments in November. If your appointment is in December, we cannot process you this week.”

For many, the long wait is disheartening. Katerina González, a Cuban migrant, has an appointment set for March 31—nearly a month away. “The American Dream is slipping away,” she admitted. “We all wanted to reach the ‘land of opportunity,’ but now we have to build our future here. We’ll stay, take our residency, and move forward with whatever comes next.”

Katerina, who currently works in a restaurant, considers herself fortunate. “I haven’t had any issues with the police. My job pays well enough to survive, at least for now.” Others, however, are not as lucky.

Survival in Limbo

Leonardo, another Cuban migrant, is stuck in Tapachula without legal documents or employment. His only source of income comes from family members in the U.S. “It’s tough not being able to work. Trump ruined everything for us. There are so many Cubans here just trying to get legalized so we don’t run into problems with the police,” he said.

The uncertainty weighs heavily on many migrants. Those who cannot find legal work often turn to the informal economy, taking up low-paying, precarious jobs to make ends meet. Women face greater dangers. Advocacy groups say some female migrants must accept unsafe work, such as sex work because they lack money.

At the same time, locals in Tapachula give different replies to the migrants. Some shops profit when migrants rent rooms, buy food, and use services; others show irritation because public areas seem full and the city has fewer resources. Mexican officials also find it hard to handle the rising migrant number. COMAR staff still process forms, but they stack up. With Trump’s new restrictions limiting asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border, it’s unclear how many of these migrants will ever receive the legal status they seek.

Mexico Caught in the Crossfire

Due to pressure from Washington, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum explained her government’s actions regarding the migration situation. She said border encounters with unauthorized migrants reached a low point referring to only 367 cases noted on February 17.

Human rights groups claim that this figure does not match real conditions. Instead of crossing into the U.S., many migrants remain trapped in Mexican border towns like Tapachula, struggling to survive. The Mexican government’s role has become increasingly complex—it must balance U.S. demands for stricter border enforcement while addressing the humanitarian needs of thousands of stranded individuals.

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For now, many migrants are waiting in uncertainty for a choice that may alter their lives. Like Katerina, they decided to settle in Mexico. Like Leonardo, keep hope for another future. As Trump’s policies alter migration numbers, one fact remains: Tapachula retains its role as a migration center.