Jose Torres, Lizbeth Diaz

TAPACHULA (Reuters – Several thousand migrants from Venezuela left southern Mexico on Monday in order to get to the United States. They hoped to arrive at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles by the end of this week.

The group is believed to be the most significant migrant caravan in the region, according to activists.

According to Reuters witnesses at Tapachula, the group included at least 6,000 persons. Mexico’s National Institute for Migration has not provided an estimation of the number or made any comment about the caravan.

Luis Garcia Villagran was the Caravan organizer. He said that the group included many people from Venezuela fleeing persecution in their homes.

He said, “These countries are collapsing due to poverty and violence.” We urge all those attending the summit to take a look at Mexico’s current situation and consider what might happen if nothing is done quickly.

The U.S. President Joe Biden will announce an agreement on regional migration issues later this week.

The children among them were some of the first to set off on their journey under heavy rain. They spread out over several lanes of highway with umbrellas and plastic ponchos.

In 2018 and 2019, large caravans heading to the United States traveled through Mexico, mostly made up of Central Americans. They were followed closely by smaller groups over recent years.

An unprecedented number of immigrants attempted illegal crossings to the U.S. border with Mexico last year.

Robinson Reyes, a 35-year old Colombian migrant, stated that he hoped the group would draw the attention of the leaders at summit.

He said, “We want a bright future for our kids…we want to travel across Mexico with no problems.” They can have a dialogue and find a solution, if God wills.