Current:Home > InvestMigrants burst into southern Mexico asylum office demanding papers -Wealth Evolution Experts
Migrants burst into southern Mexico asylum office demanding papers
View
Date:2025-04-12 16:10:18
TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) — Migrants, mostly from Haiti, burst into an asylum office in southern Mexico on Monday, demanding papers.
Throngs of migrants knocked over metal barricades and rushed into the office in the city of Tapachula, pushing past National Guard officers and police stationed at the office. Some of the migrants were trampled by their colleagues in the rush.
Authorities later convinced many to leave, and no injuries were reported.
The tension comes as asylum claims in Mexico have skyrocketed, reaching over 100,000 so far this year.
Crowds of frustrated migrants, including many from Cuba and Honduras, say they have had to wait for weeks in some cases for an appointment at the office in Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala.
At the office, run by the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid, migrants can file claims for asylum in Mexico. Most, however, intend to use the papers to travel more safely and easily to the U.S. border.
“It’s very complicated, there are too many people here, the Haitians get desperate, they knock over the barricades and that only makes the process slower,” said Cuban migrant Miguel Argoten.
Argoten said he had been waiting a week in Tapachula to start the asylum application process. The office has been getting about 2,000 appointment requests per day recently.
Mexico is on track to receive more asylum applications this year than ever before as the flow of migrants threatens to overwhelm governments of several Latin American countries along the migratory route.
Andrés Ramírez Silva, the director of Mexico’s refugee agency, said last week that the number of asylum applications his agency receives this year could reach 150,000, well above the 129,000 record set in 2021.
“Effectively we have a pace that is very above what we have in our record year that was 2021,” Ramírez Silva said. If that pace continues he predicted they could reach 150,000 by year’s end. Through August they already had 100,000 — 25% above the same period in 2021 — more than half at Mexico’s shared border with Guatemala.
Some migrants got unruly during the wait last week and pushed their way into the agency’s offices, which led to the deployment of National Guard officers, who had little luck in keeping order.
Ramírez Silva said Cubans, Haitians and Hondurans have made up about 80% of the asylum applications at the Tapachula office. He said his agency had asked the federal government for more resources to expand its capacity.
____
Follow AP’s global migration coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/migration
veryGood! (62724)
Related
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- People — and salmon — return to restored Klamath to celebrate removal of 4 dams
- West Virginians’ governor choices stand on opposite sides of the abortion debate
- Nebraska adds former coach Dana Holgorsen as offensive analyst, per report
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- A former Trump aide and a longtime congressman are likely to win in high-profile Georgia races
- Ready to spend retirement savings? What to know about a formula for safe withdrawals
- Ex-Ohio police officer found guilty of murder in 2020 Andre Hill shooting
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- New Hampshire’s governor’s race pits ex-Sen. Kelly Ayotte against ex-Mayor Joyce Craig
Ranking
- Average rate on 30
- Republican Mike Braun faces Republican-turned-Democrat Jennifer McCormick in Indiana governor’s race
- These farm country voters wish presidential candidates paid them more attention
- Casey and McCormick square off in Pennsylvania race that could determine Senate control
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Democratic mayors in San Francisco and Oakland fight to keep their jobs on Election Day
- Hogan and Alsobrooks face off in Maryland race that could sway US Senate control
- Taylor Swift watches Chiefs play Monday Night Football after end of US Eras Tour
Recommendation
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
'Yellowstone' star Luke Grimes on adapting to country culture
Beyoncé Channels Pamela Anderson in Surprise Music Video for Bodyguard
Man arrested on suspicion of plotting to blow up Nashville energy facility
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
Sean 'Diddy' Combs thanks his children for their support as they sing 'Happy Birthday'
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney challenged at poll when out to vote in election
The top US House races in Oregon garnering national attention