Mexico intensifies efforts to curb migrants boarding the freight train referred to as 'The Beast'
NORTH AMERICA
In response to mounting safety concerns, the Mexican railway company Ferromex temporarily suspended the operation of 60 trains in the northern regions of the country. Reports have indicated that migrants frequently sustain injuries while attempting to board these moving freight cars.
Mexican authorities have launched a comprehensive enforcement effort aimed at curbing the practice of migrants hitching rides on freight trains, famously known as "The Beast," in their quest to reach the United States. Over the years, thousands of migrants have utilized these trains as a perilous means of transportation to the Mexico-U.S. border, where they often cross illegally.
In response to mounting safety concerns, the Mexican railway company Ferromex temporarily suspended the operation of 60 trains in the northern regions of the country. Reports have indicated that migrants frequently sustain injuries while attempting to board these moving freight cars. To address this issue, Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) has mobilized agents in an effort to discourage migrants from attempting such dangerous journeys. This campaign includes deploying drones to pinpoint migrants who may have ventured into the surrounding areas.
One such operation occurred alongside a railway track near a landfill in Huehuetoca, a town situated north of Mexico City. Approximately 40 INM agents, utilizing more than a dozen vans, worked to block access to migrants attempting to board the trains. A drone was deployed to locate any individuals who had sought refuge in the nearby hills.
Despite these efforts, migrants, carrying backpacks and containers of water, have resorted to trekking through tall grass under the scorching sun, making their way on foot to the nearest town after being thwarted in their attempts to board the trains.
In response to the ongoing challenges posed by migrants seeking to hitch rides on these trains, INM announced plans to collaborate with Ferromex to identify strategic points where efforts can be concentrated to deter migrants from attempting such journeys.
Ferromex has reported several "regrettable cases of injuries or deaths" resulting from migrants attempting to board moving freight cars in recent days. Some migrants have even been observed jumping onto these trains while they are in motion, despite the grave dangers associated with such actions.
This crackdown on migrants using "The Beast" trains comes at a time when desperation among migrants seeking access to the United States has led to an overwhelming influx, placing immense pressure on both Mexican and U.S. border officials. The trains collectively known as "The Beast" have historically served as a transportation method for migrants heading to the U.S., and a viral video of a Ferromex train packed with migrants en route to the U.S. southern border brought renewed attention to this issue. At the time of the company's decision to halt train operations, there were approximately 1,500 migrants gathered at a rail yard in the city of Torreon, situated in the northern border state of Coahuila.