Jose Torres

MAPASTEPEC (Mexico) – The government urged migrants to apply for humanitarian visas as a precautionary measure to protect the lives of children and women in the caravan.

The group of about a thousand people, in often scorching heat, has made only 100 km (62 miles), during which time it is still more than 1,000 kilometers from Mexico City.

Luis Villagran was a leader in the caravan, which is largely composed of migrants from Central America, the Caribbean and Central America. He told Reuters that the group would make a stop in Mapastepec for a day to recuperate from fatigue and other injuries and then resume on Monday.

Villagran stated that there are over 150 children and teens who cannot walk. Villagran said that there are many pregnant women who have sore feet and can’t walk anymore. There are approximately 90 women who are in critical condition.

The National Migration Institute of the Government (INM) has tried to disperse caravans. However, it stated that it was concerned about the well-being and welfare of women and children.

The INM stated in a statement that “people’s lives and health should not be at risk regardless of where they are from,”

This week, leaders of the caravan rejected visas offered to migrants for access to regular work and healthcare.

Official data released this week also showed that Mexico has increased its detention of migrants from 32,000 to 41,000 in September, compared with the 32,000 reported a month ago. This compares to just under 82,000 for all 2020.