Tapachula, Chiapas – A new migrant caravan left Tapachula, Chiapas, on August 6 with an unexpected destination: Canada, not the United States. The group, composed of several hundred migrants from Central and South America, is moving north through Mexico in hopes of reaching a less hostile and more accessible asylum system in the northernmost part of North America.
Organizers say the caravan is a direct response to tightened U.S. border policies under President Biden and rising deportation rates along the U.S.-Mexico border. Many in the group believe that Canada offers better legal protections, faster processing, and lower chances of expulsion.
“We’re tired of being treated like criminals at the U.S. border,” said José Luis, a migrant from Honduras walking with his wife and daughter. “If Canada wants workers and respects our rights, that’s where we’ll go.”
Avoiding the United States
The caravan’s deliberate shift in destination marks a new phase in regional migration, as would-be asylum seekers look for alternatives to the U.S. amid harsh enforcement practices, including Title 42-style expulsions, limited humanitarian parole options, and aggressive deterrence at border crossings.
Advocates say Canada’s perceived openness—along with legal labor pathways and access to temporary protections—has made it an increasingly appealing target for migrants once focused exclusively on the U.S.
“Canada has become the backup plan,” said an immigration rights worker in Mexico City. “Or in many cases, the new first choice.”
While some experts warn that the journey to Canada is far longer, more expensive, and filled with uncertainty, social media networks and WhatsApp groups have circulated videos and testimonials describing the country as more humane and responsive.
Mexican authorities monitoring movement
The group departed from Tapachula, a common launch point for caravans due to its proximity to the Guatemalan border and presence of immigration processing centers.
So far, the National Migration Institute (INM) has taken a hands-off approach, monitoring but not intervening as the caravan moves northward. No confrontations or mass detentions have been reported, though checkpoints remain active in Oaxaca and Puebla.
Local authorities in Chiapas and Veracruz have coordinated with federal officials to provide basic humanitarian support, including water, first aid, and coordination with shelters along the route.
As of August 6, the caravan had reached Arriaga, with organizers expecting the group to grow in size as it proceeds.
Canada’s role in migration debate
While Canada is not commonly associated with Latin American migration routes, its seasonal worker programs, refugee intake quotas, and humanitarian visa options have drawn increased interest from displaced populations in recent years.
In 2023 and 2024, Canada expanded access to asylum pathways for Venezuelans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans, sparking a spike in interest across migrant networks. However, experts caution that Canada’s system still involves lengthy processing times and is not guaranteed to accept all applicants.
The journey north of the U.S. border presents serious logistical and legal hurdles, including crossing into Canada via unofficial routes or requesting asylum at legal entry points with limited capacity.
Still, migrants say they are more willing to risk that journey than face near-certain rejection in the U.S.
Reframing the migration map
This shift in strategy highlights how migration routes and destinations are evolving in response to policy, rhetoric, and enforcement patterns.
Whereas caravans once moved with the unspoken assumption that the U.S. was the endpoint, this group’s destination reflects a broader regional recalibration.
“It’s not just about where they can get in,” said a migration researcher at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte. “It’s about where they think they’ll be treated fairly—and where they see a future.”
The caravan’s progress will likely test how Mexican authorities, U.S. officials, and Canadian policymakers respond to this new migratory pressure point, which stretches far beyond traditional borders.
