On Christmas Eve, a multitude of migrants, primarily hailing from Central America and the Caribbean, arrived in the southern Mexican town of Alvaro Obregon, where they spent the night in a public square without any shelter. Subsequently, their plan involved continuing their journey northward to traverse Mexico and eventually reach the border with the United States.
The group, which walked approximately 15 km from the southern border city of Tapachula to reach Alvaro Obregon, intended to resume their journey around 4 am the following day. Migrant rights activist Luis Garcia Villagran emphasized the need to avoid using migrants as political pawns in the upcoming US presidential election, to which the migrants were heading. He expressed determination, stating, "We won't be stopped; we'll keep walking."
According to local authorities, the estimated daily size of the caravan was around 8,000 people. A Reuters witness accompanying the group noted that the majority of migrants were from Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean.
One of the migrants, Ysguel Jean from Haiti, carried a white cross with the word "Christ" painted in red letters. He explained that he left his home country due to widespread crime and corruption, and intending to provide for his two daughters. Frustrated by a three-month wait in Tapachula to obtain papers, he expressed weariness and a desire to reach the United States for a better life.
In previous years, large caravans, primarily composed of Central Americans, traversed Mexico to reach the United States, with smaller groups following in subsequent years. The US-Mexico border experienced a surge in attempted illegal crossings in the preceding year, with record numbers of migrants making the journey.
