Trains Operation Suspension in Mexico Fails to Deter Migrants to the US; Heightens Dangers
The railway company Ferromex announced on Tuesday the suspension of the operations of its freight trains due to the large number of migrants who board the freight cars on their way to the United States.
Despite the halt in the operations of 60 trains, migrants persist in their quest to leave their homes in search of new opportunities. While government institutions have proposed some solutions, non-governmental organizations argue that these measures fall short.
Monica Noguera, a correspondent from Imagen Multicast, a program of Excelsior TV, introduces the report, Measures by Ferromex Fail to Halt Migrant Dreams, shedding light on the impact of halted train operations on migrants’ journeys.
When the Trains Stop
The report’s narrator paints a vivid picture: When the trains come to a standstill, migrants have no choice but to rely on their own two feet, embarking on a journey filled with uncertainty. As described, the distance from Ciudad Juárez to the Ferromex yards in Torreón is so vast that it’s equivalent to walking from the capital of Nicaragua to Tapachula in Chiapas – a daunting 900-kilometer trek. This journey is now undertaken in harsh weather conditions, with increased risks for families, limited financial resources, and mounting exhaustion.
Piedras Negras presents another formidable challenge, lying 545 kilometers away from the region. Thus, it’s either walk or nothing for these migrants. The destination remains elusive, and the roads, once bustling with activity, are now deserted, with trucks serving only as makeshift shelters.
;
Ferromex’s operations have come to a halt. A reporter asks a migrant how he will continue with the journey. “We’ll see how it goes. We’ll continue as we started. We didn’t know how we’d get here. Step by step, we’ve come all the way from Venezuela,” a migrant shared.
According to Ferromex, Los Patios in Torreón is one of the critical junctures in this surge of migrants attempting to board the trains. Huehuetoca in the State of Mexico and Irapuato, Guanajuato, have also seen train services cease. In response, migrants have taken refuge beneath a low bridge, awaiting the next passing train whenever it may come.
A migrant mother recounted, “It’s affecting us greatly since we have no means to purchase a ticket to reach our destination. Without tickets, immigration officers force us off the trains, rob us, confiscate our money, and strip-search our children. We’re left with no choice but to continue walking, and we walk a great deal.”
Following Ferromex’s decision to suspend 60 out of the 200 daily train services, the relevant authorities took action. The National Immigration Institute proposed deploying more federal agents along the train routes and requested that Ferromex enhance its private security. Additionally, heightened surveillance measures will be put in place in the States of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, Nuevo León, Durango, and Chihuahua.
Non-governmental organizations in Mexico have called on authorities to fulfill their human rights obligations. The Documentation Network of Migrant Defense Organizations, comprising 24 shelters, migrant homes, and organizations across 14 states in the country, asserted, “Suspending train routes is not the solution. We urge the development of genuine, comprehensive, and humanitarian remedies.”
In the midst of these challenges, migrants continue to walk along the tracks, hoping to board any train heading in the opposite direction of the home they were forced to leave behind, all in search of a brighter future.
Watch:
Excelsior TV: Suspencion en Operaciones de Trenes en Mexico.
Also, Univision Noticias: Cientos de Migrantes Acampan sobre los Trenes
Soledad Quartucci | CEO/Founder, Latina Republic
At Latina Republic our mission is to foster regional understanding through stories, articles, interviews and reports that resonate from the heart of the Americas. Our primary objective is to encourage peaceful dialogue by shedding light on local perspectives often overlooked by mainstream media. We aspire to empower all stakeholders in resolving regional challenges by disseminating this valuable knowledge. We strive to capture the triumphs and struggles of everyday life in Latin America. Our stories track the evolution of social movements, amplifying the voices of those pioneering change.
