Mexican authorities have initiated a major enforcement effort in Mexico City to block migrants from hitching rides to the US on freight trains. These trains, known as “The Beast,” have been used by thousands of people to reach the Mexico-US border before crossing over illegally.
Following reports of injuries to migrants attempting to climb onboard freight cars, the Mexican railway company Ferromex temporarily suspended 60 trains in the northern part of the country. In response, Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM) has deployed agents to dissuade migrants from boarding the trains.
On Friday, around 40 INM agents, in over a dozen vans, prevented migrants from accessing the tracks in Huehuetoca, a town north of Mexico City. A drone was also used to locate migrants who had fled to the surrounding hills.
A Venezuelan migrant named Jason, who was forced away from the rail, expressed frustration, saying, “We have no other options anymore.” Migrants carrying backpacks and water jugs had to continue their journey on foot to the nearest town.
MEXICAN TRAIN WITH HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS ONBOARD STOPPED, PASSENGERS CHANT, ‘LET US CONTINUE’
Asylum seekers heading to the U.S. travel on a train after thousands of migrants crossed into the United States in recent days, in El Carmen, Mexico September 21, 2023. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)
INM has announced a partnership with Ferromex to identify strategic points to discourage migrants from attempting to board the trains. Ferromex has reported several cases of injuries or deaths caused by migrants illegally hopping onto moving freight cars despite the great danger involved.
MEXICO RAILWAY HALTS TRAIN OPERATIONS AFTER VIRAL VIDEO SHOWING MIGRANTS RIDING TO THE US
Asylum seekers heading to the U.S. travel on a train after thousands of migrants crossed into the United States in recent days, in El Carmen, Mexico September 21, 2023. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)
This crackdown is a response to the increasing number of migrants attempting to enter the US, which has overwhelmed border officials from both Mexico and the US.
Migrants have long relied on the “The Beast” trains to reach the US border. A video of a Ferromex train packed with migrants, heading towards the US border, recently went viral. Following Ferromex’s decision to suspend train operations, around 1,500 migrants gathered at a rail yard in Torreon, a city in the northern border state of Coahuila.
Despite the US government’s firm message to migrants not to come, large numbers of migrants continue to make the dangerous journey.
TEXAS ILLEGAL CROSSINGS SURGE AS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN MAKE TREK TO SOUTHERN BORDER IN LARGE GROUPS
Mexican authorities have begun a new enforcement action to dissuade people from attempting to ride the trains after several reports of serious injury or death. (REUTERS/Daniel Becerril)
Border patrols along the southern border have been overwhelmed by the large number of illegal crossings. Last weekend alone, more than 35,000 migrant encounters were reported along the southern border, averaging to nearly 9,000 encounters per day.
In the Rio Grande Valley sector of Texas, Border Patrol custody held well over 20,000 migrants last month. Caravans heading towards the southern border include families with infants, children, and unaccompanied minors.
Released with future court dates, many families stopped at the Rio Grande Valley sector are allowed to continue their journey.
Fox News’ Greg Wehner, Bill Melugin, Lawrence Richard, and Reuters contributed to this report.
