National Institute of Migration Dissolves Migrant Caravan in Oaxaca; Arrives in CDMX with Visas

ByMexico Solidarity

This article by Edgar H. Clemente originally appeared in the October 21, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Tapachula, Chiapas. The last group of the migrant caravan Por La Libertad, which was advancing through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, seeking to reach Mexico City, was dissolved by authorities from the National Migration Institute, security sources reported.

Some 300 members who left Chiapas on Saturday and were continuing their journey through Oaxaca after 20 days of travel decided to accept Multiple Migratory Forms from immigration authorities, a document that would allow them to continue their journey by bus. 

In the days leading up to the caravan, the number had dwindled. Many accepted the INM’s offer to be returned to Tapachula, while others accepted the offer to be taken to Veracruz.

The migrants received humanitarian visas, and several managed to reach the country’s capital, the primary objective of the exodus.

“We’re already here in Mexico City. We arrived last night. Now we’re looking for a place to rent. And we’re going to look for a place to work. We achieved our goal,” said Nelly García via telephone.

Photo: Cuartoscuro

The migrant caravan Por La Libertad departed Tapachula on October 1st with more than a thousand members. Over the course of 20 days, they walked nearly 300 kilometers, a journey that would take four hours by car.

The exodus left the southern border after reporting that their asylum applications with the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance took months, even more than a year, and they were not given the necessary conditions to wait.

According to their testimonies, work is scarce, and the few job opportunities are poorly paid and involve exploitative hours.

Therefore, they sought to move to other parts of the country with better salaries while they continued their regularization process. For now, they weren’t considering going to the United States due to President Donald Trump’s tougher policies.

Since October of last year, when President Claudia Sheinbaum took office, at least 16 caravans have departed from Tapachula. All were dissolved as they moved between Chiapas and Oaxaca.