migrants create makeshift camps on the Mexico border

The “La Bolsita” neighborhood, in Matamoros, Mexico, looks like any other, with shops, barbershops and food stalls. But the houses are not common constructions, but tents made with pieces of wood and sheets by migrants who have arrived in the area seeking to cross the border into the United States.

The migrants, mostly Venezuelans, Cubans and Haitians, have created communities of this type in the border cities of Mexico where the “search” for work is the reality of every day.

“You have to survive, work to eat. It is something strong, like a nightmare because we are living in conditions that are not really human, there are no bathrooms, there is no water,” said Marian Dayana Zambrano, a Venezuelan who has been waiting five months to cross into the United States.

These conditions are no better for children who are brought with their families to the border, said a 7-year-old Venezuelan girl. The voice of america He did not reveal the real identity of the minor because he was in a vulnerable situation.

“It is also difficult for us. But at least we have something to sleep, we have to eat, we have jobs,” she said.

“They [en EEUU] They think that we are having a good time here, and no, here we are working to eat and we also have to build the kitchens”, added the girl.

Migrants go to jobs such as cutting hair, selling food or selling sweets to acquire money to try to cover their basic needs.

Luis Durán arrived in Mexico two months ago and established his own candy store called ‘Sanki Panki’ in the “La Bolsita” neighborhood, to earn an income.

Durán and most of the residents in these camps are waiting to set up an asylum application interview with US immigration authorities through the CBP One application.

“That side is called Barrio Escondido, because it is far away and there are few ranches,” Durán explained about the camp. Already here this neighborhood is La Bolsita, because there are many urbanizations, we are close. We already have a little store, the confectionery, the candies and the little things for the children”, he expressed.

Other migrants sell typical food from their countries. A Venezuelan who asked not to reveal his name sells arepas with eggs, chicken or cheese for 50 Mexican pesos, “to survive until they call us about the appointment,” he said. He is in the camp with his four children and his wife. He has been in Mexico for more than a month.

Matamoros residents have mixed opinions about the presence of migrants in makeshift camps.

“We are not used to seeing this type of people,” said Acenet Márquez, who lives in the city. “They are different, but I think they have a chance (to reach the US) and if they do, then great.”

Data from the Office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that covers the sector of the Rio Grande in southeast Texas reveal that the border patrol has detained 26,609 Cuban, Nicaraguan, Haitian and Venezuelan migrants who tried to cross illegally into the US in the first four months of fiscal year 2023.

supports and challenges

The influx of migrants in recent times has meant a challenge for residents and local authorities. In November 2022, for example, hundreds of Haitian and Venezuelan migrants were evicted from a camp in Matamoros in an operation by the government and public forces.

The person in charge of Public Security of Matamoros, Jorge Arizaga, then told the media that the operation sought to “avoid excesses” after “they detected crimes from the sale of alcohol and even prostitution.”

Among the citizens and local activists, feelings are mixed. Some support the migrants and others are against the existence of these camps.

“They leave their country because there is a need,” said a Matamoros resident who came to the migrant camp with a group of volunteers to bring food to the people who remain there.

The man assured that “there are different opinions, there are those who see it badly. Not all people are the same, as in all countries, in all cultures, there are good people and there are bad people. And within those people who can be bad, they affect others, and with those details, the community gets upset.

“But we don’t feed off of that, we try to be sensitive to the need so we can help where we can,” he said.

Fernando Cuevas, a Mexican resident of Atlanta, Georgia, was one of the volunteers who came to the camp offering support to the migrants. He said that he left his country “lost and without hope” and that is why he relates to the people who today hope to cross the border. “I am not rich, nor am I poor, but I am in a different status. That helps me to understand what they need, ”he added.

Migrants who, given the characteristics of the irregular journey to Mexico and the way of life in the camps, see their health compromised, also have the assistance of Doctors Without Borders, an international medical and humanitarian organization, which is also present in the area with medical and psychosocial activities.

“In each project we are in, what we seek is to reduce the gaps in access to health. We attend relevant medical situations, such as gastrointestinal and respiratory issues. Here the climate changes are quite extreme, very hot or very cold, and people do not come prepared, they are not used to this type of climate,” said Nayeli Flores, an employee of the organization in Reynosa, Mexico.

In that border city, other migrants are dedicated to building the tents in which people who are arriving in the area seeking to cross into the US will spend the night. “Here we do a little bit of everything for the people who arrive. We do everything humanly possible to organize them in their tents, so that they at least have a good night’s sleep,” said Aristides Mendoza.

The Venezuelan described that the tents are built for a capacity of up to six people. However, families are accommodated according to the number of members. “I do everything from the heart. I am satisfied with what I do. For now I am here and I will stay here until it is my turn, just like my colleagues. I always try to help people as much as I can, ”he concluded.

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