Mexico, the last North

Mexico, the last North

Every day, thousands of migrants face harrowing challenges to cross Mexico, a journey fraught with peril due to the control exerted by both criminal cartels and migration authorities. For many, Mexico, with over 3,000 kilometers stretching from south to north, has become an endless border for migrants—a "last north" that represents the final stretch they must endure before reaching the United States. Along the way, migrants are confronted with numerous dangers, starting with the cartels that control key migration routes. Groups like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels often exploit and extort migrants, forcing them to pay for safe passage or even subjecting them to violence. These cartels create an environment of fear and insecurity, making the journey even more treacherous.

At the same time, migration authorities add another layer of difficulty. Mexico's immigration policies and practices often trap migrants in cities like Tapachula, near the southern border, where they are stuck waiting for documentation, appointments, or permits to continue their journey north. The bureaucratic delays create overcrowded shelters and living conditions that are both precarious and degrading. Many migrants are left with no choice but to endure long waits, sometimes for weeks or even months, living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

The combination of these factors — cartel violence, the heavy-handed presence of migration authorities, and the ever-present uncertainty of the future — makes crossing Mexico one of the most dangerous and exhausting parts of the migrant journey. For those making the trek north, this final leg is often seen as the last obstacle to overcome before reaching the U.S., and for many, it is a desperate race against time, hoping to avoid capture, violence, or the harsh realities of life in the shadow of migration policies.