Skip to Content

Migrants risk life and limb to jump Mexico trains in rush to US border

(ABC) -- Thousands of migrants in Mexico have been clambering onto dangerous freight trains in hopes of reaching the United States before a tough migration policy ends this week.

Up to several hundred people have boarded trains daily, with many setting off atop train cars pulling out from a brief stopping point at a garbage dump in Huehuetoca, a town north of Mexico City.

The rush has intensified as news circulates about the end on Thursday night of Title 42 -- a COVID-era policy that has allowed the U.S. to rapidly expel migrants back to Mexico.

PHOTO: Migrants get on a train at the site known as El Basurero, a stretch of land next to a trash dump and the railroad, as they continue their journey towards the U.S. border in Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, April 14, 2023.
Migrants, mostly from Venezuela, get on a train at the site known as El Basurero, a stretch of land next to a trash dump and the railroad, as they continue their journey towards the U.S. border in Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, April 14, 2023Gustavo Graf/Reuters

The U.S. is preparing for a jump in border crossings when it goes, piling more pressure on authorities already grappling with record levels of illegal entry.

Many migrants want to reach the border as soon as possible, although they are unsure what the rules will now be. Washington has said it will finalize a new regulation this week that will deny asylum to many.

PHOTO: Migrants travel on a train, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.
Migrants travel on a train, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

"Will it be easier? I doubt it," said Romario Solano, 23, a Venezuelan, who waited for hours in baking sun near the trash-strewn rail tracks in Huehuetoca. "We know that as migration has increased, tougher measures have been taken."

Solano acknowledged that riding the train was dangerous but said he did not have money for a bus.MORE: Biden administration officials preview plans for end of Title 42

PHOTO: Migrants travel on a train, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.
Migrants travel on a train, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters
PHOTO: Victoria and Alan, migrant children traveling with their family, play on a train as they try to reach the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.
Victoria and Alan, migrant children traveling with their family, play on a train as they try to reach the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

For years, mainly Central Americans have crisscrossed Mexico on cargo trains, dubbing them collectively "La Bestia" (The Beast) due to the risk of injury, even death, if they fell off. Migrants are also vulnerable to gangs, cold nights and sweltering days.

The latest wave of people aboard "La Bestia" are largely poor Venezuelans, including families with small children, mostly aiming to reach Ciudad Juarez, opposite the Texan city of El Paso.

PHOTO: Victoria a migrant girl plays inside a carriage as she travels with her family on board the train with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.
Victoria a migrant girl plays inside a carriage as she travels with her family on board the train with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

Many climb narrow ladders to sit on roofs; others huddle inside empty boxcars and spread blankets over gravel, steel bars and other building materials to ride in open-air wagons.

"There are hundreds of people arriving every day," said migrant activist Guadalupe Gonzalez last week in the central city of Irapuato, where the train makes a stop. "We hadn’t seen so many migrants passing through here like this before."

During the past month, as many as 700 people were trying to board per day, she said.

PHOTO: Jhon Jairo and Johan Enrique are seen sitting in the door of a carriage as they travel on a train, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.
Jhon Jairo and Johan Enrique are seen sitting in the door of a carriage as they travel on a train, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

Seated on a log near the Huehuetoca garbage dump, Venezuelan migrant Allender Ruy played voice messages on his phone from a friend warning him about the several-day journey ahead: "Brother, when you get the train, bundle up ... it’s very cold, terribly cold."

After being deported to Venezuela earlier this year from Panama while en route to the U.S., Ruy was hoping for a second shot. "I have to get there, at the latest, before the 11th," he said.

PHOTO: Cathaleya, (R), a seven-year-old migrant girl, rests with another migrant girl inside a train carriage as she travels with her family, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.
Cathaleya, (R), a seven-year-old migrant girl, rests with another migrant girl inside a train carriage as she travels with her family, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters
PHOTO: Victoria, a seven-year-old migrant girl, sits inside a carriage as she travels with her family on board a train with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.
Victoria, a seven-year-old migrant girl, sits inside a carriage as she travels with her family on board a train with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

On the cracked screen of his smartphone, fellow Venezuelan Franklin Cuervas watched a Tik Tok video captioned "the border is getting tougher." Two of his brothers in the U.S. had urged him to arrive before May 11 to avoid crowds of other migrants.

"They say it would be better (to arrive) before, because more people are coming, people who want to get in," he said.

PHOTO: Migrants watch a passing train in the site known as El Basurero, a stretch of land next to a trash dump and the railroad, as they continue their journey to the U.S. border, in Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, April 28, 2023.
Migrants, mostly from Venezuela, watch a passing train in the site known as El Basurero, a stretch of land next to a trash dump and the railroad, as they continue their journey to the U.S. border, in Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, April 28, 2023.Gustavo Graf/Reuters

A family of 10, including a 1-year-old girl and several children who were coughing, retreated in disappointment to the shade of one of the few trees in the hot desert terrain when they realized a clattering train was not the one they wanted.

"We're a bit anxious ... supposedly there will be problems before the 11th," said Alejandro Mavo, 44, who traveled with his wife and five children from Venezuela. “We’re barely on time."

PHOTO: Migrants travel on a train, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.
Migrants travel on a train, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters
PHOTO: Migrants trying to reach the United States walk by a border wall in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, as seen from El Paso, Texas, May 8, 2023.
Migrants trying to reach the United States walk by a border wall in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, as seen from El Paso, Texas, May 8, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters
Migrants rest by the tracks in the site known as El Basurero, a stretch of land next to a trash dump and the railroad, as they wait for a train to continue their journey towards the U.S. border in Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, April 14, 2023.
Migrants, mostly from Venezuela, rest by the tracks in the site known as El Basurero, a stretch of land next to a trash dump and the railroad, as they wait for a train to continue their journey towards the U.S. border in Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, April 14, 2023.Gustavo Graf/Reuters
PHOTO: Migrants rest during a train stop, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.
Migrants rest during a train stop, with the intention of reaching the United States, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 19, 2023.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters
PHOTO: Migrants walk on top of railroad cars as they get ready to continue their journey to the U.S. border in the site known as El Basurero, a stretch of land next to a trash dump and the railroad, in Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, April 26, 2023.
Migrants, mostly from Venezuela, walk on top of railroad cars as they get ready to continue their journey to the U.S. border in the site known as El Basurero, a stretch of land next to a trash dump and the railroad, in Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, April 26, 2023.Gustavo Graf/Reuters
Article Topic Follows: Top Stories

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

ABC News

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content