Some considerations about the Central American migrant caravan in Piedras Negras, Coahuila

Abstract

The objective of this article is to do an analysis on some characteristics associated with the Central American migrant caravan that arrived in Piedras Negras, Coahuila in February 2019. 535 questionnaires were applied and 5 of the pilot test were added for a total of 540. In addition, 6 interviews were carried out with the local population; a hemerographic review of the local and regional press was made and various secondary sources and statistical information were consulted. Among the conclusions are: migrants leave their countries due to lack of work and economic opportunities; in addition to above, the conditions of insecurity and violence in their countries are relevant variables to make the decision to migrate; the goal is to reach the United States and ask for political asylum; in their transit through Mexico some faced abuse of Mexican authorities. The opinion of the local population of the caravan is ambivalent: both solidarity support and help from organized society, and rejection associated with the idea that migrants make use of resources that nigropetenses do not have.