Cuban migrants in transit through Mexico’s southern border: institutional precarities and human vulnerability

Abstract

In this article the migratory phenomenon is analyzed from the perspective of Cuban immigrants in his transit through Mexico. The migrant flows from 2010 are subjected to a brief scrutiny. From that point in time, they become visible due to the shift in immigration policy in the United States. The scope of the Cuban migrants’ perceptions about the transit, the events that occurred, as well as their aspirations are highlighted. This approach brings the guidelines for the analysis of the problem from the framework of policies for the illegal migration to be regularized, which policies have strengthened the mercantilization of immigrants, increased xenophobia and aporophobia under discourses of Countries’ sovereignty. It is concluded that despite the adversities that each migratory movement may experience during the “reception” process in border cities such as Tapachula, the study subjects continue to prefer other destinations to live, given the expectations created and the human capital they possess.