Migrants Clash With Police In Mexico Border Town

More than twenty people have been injured in clashes between migrants and police in the town of Tapachula, on Mexico’s southern border officials say. The Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM) also said about 100 migrants, mainly from the Cuba, Haiti and countries in Africa, joined in violent protests. The INM also said the

migrants were trying to jump the queue for permits to allow them to continue their journey north. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people cross Mexico headed to the US. The Migrants threw stones and sticks at the members of the National Guard and scuffles broke out between

Families sheltered behind chairs and underneath tables

the two sides. Rights activist told news agency that the migrants were desperate after waiting for months to be given an appointment with Mexico’s immigration authorities. Most have been sleeping rough by the roadside and are relying on handouts to feed themselves. While many want to reach the United

States and are waiting for papers that will allow them to cross the country without being detained, others are applying for refugee or asylum status to be able to stay in Mexico.Official data suggests that the number of people requesting refuge or asylum in Mexico almost doubled between the 2019 and 2021, overwhelming the

authorities. The immigration centre in Tapachula the biggest in Mexico has become one of main bottlenecks on migrants’ journeys and the United Nations refugee agency has urged the authorities to do more to clear the backlog. Last week, a group of migrants in the town sewed their mouths shut in protest at the slow pace at which their requests are being processed.