Last weekend, a surge of 6,000 Central American migrants flowed into Guadalajara, the latest stop on their highly-publicized trek across Mexico to the U.S. border.
As they reached the city limits, travelers were greeted by Jalisco law enforcement officers, religious volunteers and human rights monitors. Eventually, they were shepherded to the Benito Juarez Auditorium where they received health services, food and temporary shelter before beginning the next part of their journey.
This is the latest wave of emigrants riding in caravans (many of which are sponsored by humanitarian groups) to flee their countries. Organizations such as Pueblos Sin Frontera say it’s safer for migrants to travel in groups across Mexico to avoid narco-related violence. Since the most recent caravan began on October 12 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, with only 200 participants, the number steadily rose before members splintered off into smaller groups.
Upon the group’s arrival at the improvised intake center on the toll road outside Zapotlanejo, it soon became apparent that this was a mobilized effort to ensure the safe passage of displaced people. All afternoon, observers witnessed dozens of trucks drop off hopeful refugees coming from the state of Guanajuato where the original caravan had dropped them off.
Fending for themselves since then, one group hitched a ride on top of an excavator while others sat aboard long trailers, cheering “¡Sí se pudo!” (roughly translated as “it was possible”) as they approached the roadside facility. Numerous travelers have been in transit for over one month, withstanding the elements, sickness, cramped quarters and immense uncertainty following recent incidents of family separations at the U.S.-Mexican border.
The majority of the migrants came from Honduras, saying that they’re escaping rampant gang violence, severe economic instability and political unrest.
“The situation is really bad economically and politically,” said Romero, a 47-year-old house painter, as he waited to board a bus to the shelter. “There’s no work, no medicine. My goal is to find a place where there’s work and where my kids and I can have a comfortable life to live freely, free of extortion and the bad parts of the government.”
Honduras has become increasingly more volatile following the contested 2014 presidential election of Juan Orlando Hernández, who opponents say is in cahoots with local drug cartels.
“There’s a lot of corruption with the president, police officers and the army generals,” said Marcos, a young father who left his wife and two daughters to find work after being unemployed for the past six months. “Politicians say they’re combating traffickers but right now there’s still trafficking. They have to change a lot of things. In Honduras, there’s a lot of sadness and poverty. Children don’t look to the future in the morning, — all they see is the prejudice on the street.”
Although rumors started to spread that not everyone would be permitted inside the Benito Juarez auditorium due to somebody carrying an infectious virus, folks appeared to be optimistic and thankful for the services provided by the state government.
“I’m very satisfied,” said Brittany Nicole, a former merchant. “Mexico has understood our struggle. North America doesn’t support us but we are very pleased with the Mexicans.”
Once they exited the rigs, newcomers eagerly got in formation to receive rations of food and water before charter buses took them to their temporary shelter.
“We’re going to eat,” said one gleeful man, excited to embark to his next destination.
A little girl threw her stuffed animal up in the air, all while posing for photographs with a contagious smile spread across her face.
Another man proudly held the Mexican flag while triumphantly gazing into the cameras.
Since most had left Guadalajara by Wednesday, the bulk of the migrants intend to continue their journey to the United States, where they will apply for asylum, regardless of the challenges they will face under the Trump administration. Some didn’t refrain from sharing their opinion on the controversial U.S. president.
“In general, I think he is very selfish,” said César, who worked as a mason and fisherman in Honduras. “Americans don’t want us to have the opportunity to go there but all of us are going in peace.”
One passenger spoke about his tribulations following his deportation from the United States last year, despite residing there for 19 years.
“I grew up in the U.S. and then Trump took away my papers just for driving with a suspended license,” said Kevin, a 22-year-old Honduran who moved to New York City when he was two years old. “I couldn’t stay in Honduras, I had to go to Mexico because I have tattoos. In Honduras, you can’t live with tattoos because either 
the police kill you or the gangs kill you. When I got to Honduras, they only gave me 24 hours to leave because the gang members were going to kill me. They raided my house and everything.”
Not feeling safe in Honduras, Kevin sought temporary refuge in Chiapas until he learned about the caravan via Facebook.
Jennifer, a 30-year-old Honduran who left her three children at home, said she was forced to flee the country and is determined to reach the United States. “I am thinking about applying for asylum in the United States because I have rights to do so. Perhaps they will grant it to me and then I’ll bring my children over because I really can’t return to Honduras. I know Trump is trying to put a stop to immigration but I don’t think he’s going about it the right way. It’s inhumane to separate children from their mothers. I think that human rights organizations will have to go against the American president. He should support immigrants because really the strength of the U.S. lays in the immigrants.”
For the whole afternoon, missionaries dressed in pristine white robes assisted mothers off of crowded vehicles, holding their infants as the women gathered their belongings. Human rights monitors also remained vigilant throughout the day, making sure that newcomers didn’t experience any intimidation or violence from law enforcement officers.
“I was invited by a friend to come help monitor and to see that the authorities were doing their part and that no human rights were being violated,” said Pedro Magallón, a volunteer. “So far so good, I don’t think I’ve seen any intimidation and everybody seems to be working together.”