richmond.com Open in urlscan Pro
192.104.183.209 Public Scan

Back to summary

URL:
https://richmond.com/news/nation-world/the-jungle-between-colombia-and-panama-becomes-a-highway-for-migrants-from-aro...
Submission: On November 26 via api (November 26th 2024, 3:22:01 am UTC) from US — Scanned from DE

Form analysis
16 forms found in the DOM

POST https://richmond.com/users/logout/

<form method="post" action="https://richmond.com/users/logout/" id="user-logout-form"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token" value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a"><input type="hidden"
    name="referer_url" value="https://richmond.com/news/nation-world/the-jungle-between-colombia-and-panama-becomes-a-highway-for-migrants-from-around-the-world/article_898a6634-151e-59b1-86df-014493d69a5b.html"><input type="submit" name="logout"
    value="Logout" class="hide">
</form>

GET /search/

<form action="/search/" method="GET"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token" value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="sd" value="desc">
  <input type="hidden" name="l" value="25">
  <input type="hidden" name="s" value="start_time">
  <input type="hidden" name="f" value="html">
  <input type="hidden" name="t" value="article,video,youtube,collection">
  <input type="hidden" name="app" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="nsa" value="eedition">
  <div class="input-group input-group-lg">
    <input id="mobile-search-q" name="q" title="Site Search" type="text" placeholder="Search..." class="form-control search-term" autocomplete="off">
    <span class="input-group-btn">
      <button class="btn btn-link" aria-label="Submit Site Search" type="submit">
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" iewbox="0 0 19.9 19.7" stroke-width="1.5" width="24" height="24">
          <g fill="none" stroke="currentColor">
            <path stroke-linecap="round" d="M18.5 18.3l-5.4-5.4"></path>
            <circle cx="8" cy="8" r="7"></circle>
          </g>
        </svg>
      </button>
    </span>
  </div>
</form>

GET /search/

<form action="/search/" method="GET"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token" value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="sd" value="desc">
  <input type="hidden" name="l" value="25">
  <input type="hidden" name="s" value="start_time">
  <input type="hidden" name="f" value="html">
  <input type="hidden" name="t" value="article,video,youtube,collection">
  <input type="hidden" name="app" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="nsa" value="eedition">
  <div class="input-group input-group-lg">
    <input id="mobile-search-q" name="q" title="Site Search" type="text" placeholder="Search..." class="form-control search-term" autocomplete="off">
    <span class="input-group-btn">
      <button class="btn btn-link" aria-label="Submit Site Search" type="submit">
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" iewbox="0 0 19.9 19.7" stroke-width="1.5" width="24" height="24">
          <g fill="none" stroke="currentColor">
            <path stroke-linecap="round" d="M18.5 18.3l-5.4-5.4"></path>
            <circle cx="8" cy="8" r="7"></circle>
          </g>
        </svg>
      </button>
    </span>
  </div>
</form>

GET /search/

<form action="/search/" method="GET"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token" value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="sd" value="desc">
  <input type="hidden" name="l" value="25">
  <input type="hidden" name="s" value="start_time">
  <input type="hidden" name="f" value="html">
  <input type="hidden" name="t" value="article,video,youtube,collection">
  <input type="hidden" name="app" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="nsa" value="eedition">
  <div class="input-group">
    <span class="input-group-btn">
      <button class="btn btn-link" aria-label="Submit Site Search" type="submit">
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" iewbox="0 0 19.9 19.7" stroke-width="1.5" width="24" height="24">
          <g fill="none" stroke="currentColor">
            <path stroke-linecap="round" d="M18.5 18.3l-5.4-5.4"></path>
            <circle cx="8" cy="8" r="7"></circle>
          </g>
        </svg>
      </button>
    </span>
    <input name="q" title="Site Search" type="text" placeholder="Search Richmond Times-Dispatch" class="form-control search-term" autocomplete="off">
  </div>
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="898a6634-151e-59b1-86df-014493d69a5b" class="save-list-898a6634-151e-59b1-86df-014493d69a5b-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token"
    value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="898a6634-151e-59b1-86df-014493d69a5b">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="articles">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="898a6634-151e-59b1-86df-014493d69a5b" class="save-list-898a6634-151e-59b1-86df-014493d69a5b-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token"
    value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="898a6634-151e-59b1-86df-014493d69a5b">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="articles">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="5906922b-b66e-5899-b7b4-135ccaae3724" class="save-list-5906922b-b66e-5899-b7b4-135ccaae3724-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="5906922b-b66e-5899-b7b4-135ccaae3724">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="48af27c6-7bbd-5673-8e33-0c3b43539b6e" class="save-list-48af27c6-7bbd-5673-8e33-0c3b43539b6e-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="48af27c6-7bbd-5673-8e33-0c3b43539b6e">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="175ce38a-99f7-5ac1-8445-28fa503c3c4b" class="save-list-175ce38a-99f7-5ac1-8445-28fa503c3c4b-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="175ce38a-99f7-5ac1-8445-28fa503c3c4b">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="d0f94823-42aa-55d4-88db-5016469f72ea" class="save-list-d0f94823-42aa-55d4-88db-5016469f72ea-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="d0f94823-42aa-55d4-88db-5016469f72ea">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="82c517ed-01f2-558a-b62c-aa2f95b3672e" class="save-list-82c517ed-01f2-558a-b62c-aa2f95b3672e-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="82c517ed-01f2-558a-b62c-aa2f95b3672e">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="5906922b-b66e-5899-b7b4-135ccaae3724" class="save-list-5906922b-b66e-5899-b7b4-135ccaae3724-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token"
    value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="5906922b-b66e-5899-b7b4-135ccaae3724">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="48af27c6-7bbd-5673-8e33-0c3b43539b6e" class="save-list-48af27c6-7bbd-5673-8e33-0c3b43539b6e-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token"
    value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="48af27c6-7bbd-5673-8e33-0c3b43539b6e">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="175ce38a-99f7-5ac1-8445-28fa503c3c4b" class="save-list-175ce38a-99f7-5ac1-8445-28fa503c3c4b-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token"
    value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="175ce38a-99f7-5ac1-8445-28fa503c3c4b">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="d0f94823-42aa-55d4-88db-5016469f72ea" class="save-list-d0f94823-42aa-55d4-88db-5016469f72ea-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token"
    value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="d0f94823-42aa-55d4-88db-5016469f72ea">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

POST /users/admin/list/

<form method="post" data-uuid="82c517ed-01f2-558a-b62c-aa2f95b3672e" class="save-list-82c517ed-01f2-558a-b62c-aa2f95b3672e-form save-asset-to-list" action="/users/admin/list/"><input type="hidden" name="tncms_csrf_token"
    value="f23007c05d985aad42908c0137b26741d4ab4212eaa21756ea2652f08df9b7f6.7eedec6b7b6d8fd1849a">
  <input type="hidden" name="action" value="addasset">
  <input type="hidden" name="format" value="json">
  <input type="hidden" name="listasset" value="82c517ed-01f2-558a-b62c-aa2f95b3672e">
  <input type="hidden" name="listapp" value="editorial">
  <input type="hidden" name="autocreate" value="true">
  <input type="hidden" name="listname" value="images">
  <input class="hide" type="submit" name="submit" value="Save">
</form>

Text Content

Skip to main contentSkip to main content

Enjoy unlimited digital access to richmond.com!
If you are an active subscriber and seeing this message, please click here log
back in.
{{display_title}}
Special Introductory Offer
Sign Up
*offer available for new customers only
Already subscribed? Log in | Return to homepage

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE
EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS:

E-edition PLUS unlimited articles & videos

Personalized news alerts with our mobile app

*FREE access to newspapers.com archives

Hundreds of games, puzzles & comics online

*Refers to the latest 2 years of richmond.com stories. Cancel anytime.

You have permission to edit this article.
Edit Close

61°
* Log In
* Subscribe $1 for 3 months

* Guest
* Logout

Read Today's E-edition

* News
* Local
* Virginia Video Network
* Crime
* Politics
* State & Region
* Education
* Nation & World
* News Tip
* Business
* Local
* On the Move
* Top Workplaces
* Obituaries
* Share a story
* Recent Obituaries
* Find an Obituary
* Archives
* Opinion
* Submit a letter
* Letters
* Editorial
* Columnists
* Sports
* High School
* College
* Professional
* Betting
* Casino
* Life & Entertainment
* Event Calendar
* Arts & Theatre
* Movies & TV
* Music
* Comics
* Puzzles
* Contests
* Play
* Food & Cooking
* Home & Garden
* Health
* Get Healthy
* Parenting
* Fashion
* Pets
* Travel
* Faith
* Announcements
* Sponsored Features
* Join the community
* News tip
* Share video
* Send a story
* Share a photo
* Brand Ave. Studios

* Print Edition
* E-edition
* E-edition Archives
* Today's Ads
* Special Sections
* Our Publications
* Mechanicsville Local
* Powhatan Today
* Goochland Gazette
* Buy & Sell
* Curated Commerce
* Place an Ad
* Jobs
* Homes
* Cars
* Marketplace
* Shop Local
* Public Notices
* Buyer's Guide
* RTD Merchandise
* Customer Service
* Manage Subscription
* Activate Digital Subscription
* Subscribe
* Newsletter sign-up
* Contact Us
* Advertise with RTD
* Help Center
* Gift Subscriptions
* Mobile Apps
* Weather: Live Radar

* Facebook
* Twitter
* LinkedIn
* Instagram

Subscribe $1 for 3 months
Read Today's E-edition
Subscribe

* Log In

* Welcome, Guest
* My Subscription
Help Center
* My Account
* Dashboard
* Profile
* Saved items
*
* Logout

* E-edition
* News
* Business
* Obituaries
* Opinion
* Sports
* Puzzles
* Life & Entertainment
* Jobs

* 61° Sunny

Share This

* Facebook
* Twitter
* WhatsApp
* SMS
* Email

The jungle between Colombia and Panama becomes a highway for migrants from
around the world
Live chat
Share this
* Facebook
* Twitter
* WhatsApp
* SMS
* Email
* Print
* Copy article link
* Save

JUST IN

MAN IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER SHOOTING ON I-64, STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

THE JUNGLE BETWEEN COLOMBIA AND PANAMA BECOMES A HIGHWAY FOR MIGRANTS FROM
AROUND THE WORLD

* CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press
* Dec 31, 2023
* Dec 31, 2023 Updated Apr 5, 2024
*

* Facebook
* Twitter
* WhatsApp
* SMS
* Email
* Print
* Copy article link
* Save

MEXICO CITY — Once nearly impenetrable for migrants heading north from Latin
America, the jungle between Colombia and Panama this past year became a speedy
but still treacherous highway for hundreds of thousands of people from around
the world.

Driven by economic crises, government repression and violence, migrants from
China to Haiti decided to risk three days of deep mud, rushing rivers and
bandits. Enterprising locals offered guides and porters, set up campsites and
sold supplies to migrants, using color-coded wristbands to track who had paid
for what.

Haitian migrants wade through water as they cross the Darien Gap on May 9 from
Colombia to Panama in hopes of reaching the U.S.

Ivan Valencia, Associated Press

Enabled by social media and Colombian organized crime, more than 506,000
migrants — nearly two-thirds Venezuelans — had crossed the Darien jungle by
mid-December, double the 248,000 who set a record the previous year. Before last
year, the record was barely 30,000 in 2016.

Dana Graber Ladek, the Mexico chief for the United Nation's International
Organization for Migration, said migration flows through the region this year
were "historic numbers that we have never seen."

PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING…

* Schapiro: Spanberger's unexpected problem – fellow Democrats
* Avula announces dozens more transition team members
* Kabana Rooftop is closing after 8 years
* Former local Federal Reserve manager pleads guilty to insider trading
* Chesterfield planners OK four projects, 700 new residences
* 2-vehicle crash in Henrico sends 3 to hospital
* Richmond Public Schools prepares for potential effects of Trump
administration
* Skill games firm sues Virginia attorney general, Henrico prosecutor over
enforcement
* The atmosphere of Dinwiddie football home games has become 804 sports lore.
Why?
* Virginia House budget outlook shows $3.2 billion surplus ahead
* UPDATE: Henrico pedestrian dies after being hit by multiple vehicles
* Update: Hanover man dies after crashing car into woods
* Hanover High suspends title-winning baseball program amid 'reports of
misconduct'
* Monday night shooting on Cherokee Road sparks investigation
* Judge says Youngkin can't pull Virginia out of greenhouse gas program

It wasn't only in Latin America.

The number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean or the Atlantic on small boats
to reach Europe this year has surged. More than 250,000 irregular arrivals were
registered in 2023, according to the European Commission.

A significant increase from recent years, the number remains well below levels
seen in the 2015 refugee crisis, when more than 1 million people landed in
Europe, most fleeing wars in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. Still, the rise has fed
anti-migrant sentiment and laid the groundwork for tougher legislation.

In December, the British government announced tough new immigration rules aimed
at reducing the number of people able to move to the U.K. each year by hundreds
of thousands. Authorized immigration to the U.K. set a record in 2022 with
nearly 750,000.

A week later, French opposition lawmakers rejected an immigration bill from
President Emmanuel Macron without even debating it. It had been intended to make
it easier for France to expel foreigners considered undesirable. Far-right
politicians alleged the bill would have increased the number of migrants coming
to the country, while migrant advocates said it threatened the rights of
asylum-seekers.

A migrant gestures to Texas National Guard soldiers standing behind razor wire
on the bank of the Rio Grande, seen May 11 from Matamoros, Mexico.

Fernando Llano, Associated Press

In Washington, the debate has shifted from efforts early in the year to open new
legal pathways largely toward measures to keep migrants out as Republicans try
to take advantage of the Biden administration's push for more aid to Ukraine to
tighten the U.S. southern border.

The U.S. started the year opening limited spaces to Venezuelans — as well as
Cubans, Nicaraguans and Haitians — in January to enter legally for two years
with a sponsor, while expelling those who didn't qualify to Mexico. Their
numbers dropped somewhat for a time before climbing again with renewed vigor.

Venezuelan Alexander Mercado had only been back in his country for a month after
losing his job in Peru before he and his partner decided to set off for the
United States with their infant son.

Venezuela's minimum wage was the equivalent of about $4 a month then, while 2.2
pounds of beef was about $5, said Angelis Flores, his 28-year-old wife.

"Imagine how someone with a salary of $4 a month survives," she said.

Mercado, 27, and Flores were already on their way when in September the U.S.
announced it was granting temporary legal status to more than 470,000
Venezuelans already in the country. Weeks later, the Biden administration said
it was resuming deportation flights to the South American nation.

Mercado and Flores hiked the well-trod trail through the jungle, managing to
push through in three days. Flores and their son, in particular, got very sick.
She believes they were infected by the contaminated water they drank along the
way.

"There was a body in the middle of river and the 'zamuros', those black birds,
were eating it and picking it apart … all of that was running in the river," she
said.

For Mercado and Flores, the journey accelerated once they left the jungle. In
October, Panama and Costa Rica announced a deal to speed migrants across their
countries. Panama bused migrants to a center in Costa Rica where they were held
until they could buy a bus ticket to Nicaragua.

Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All
Of Our Podcasts

Nicaragua also seemed to opt for speeding migrants through its territory.
Mercado said they crossed on buses in a day.

After discovering that Nicaragua had lax visa requirements, Cubans and Haitians
poured into Nicaragua on charter flights, purchasing roundtrip tickets they
never intended. Citizens of African nations made circuitous series of connecting
flights through Africa, Europe and Latin America to arrive in Managua to start
travelling overland toward the United States, avoiding the Darien.

Migrants fill the top of a northbound freight train Sept. 23 in Irapuato,
Mexico.

Marco Ugarte, Associated Press

In Honduras, Mercado and Flores were given a pass from authorities allowing them
five days to transit the country.

Adam Isacson, an analyst tracking migration at the Washington Office on Latin
America, said that Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras grant migrants legal status
while they're transiting the countries, which have limited resources, and by
letting migrants pass legally the countries make them less vulnerable to
extortion from authorities and smugglers.

Then there are Guatemala and Mexico, which Isacson called the
"we're-going-to-make-a-show-of-blocking-you countries" attempting to score
points with the U.S. government.

For many that has meant spending money to hire smugglers to cross Guatemala and
Mexico, or exposing themselves to repeated extortion attempts.

Mercado didn't hire a smuggler and paid the price. It was "very difficult to get
through Guatemala," he said. "The police kept taking money."

But that was just a taste of what was to come.

Chinese migrants line up to take a boat to Lajas Blancas after walking across
the Darien Gap on May 7 in Bajo Chiquito, Panama.

Natacha Pisarenko, Associated Press

Standing outside a Mexico City shelter with their son on a recent afternoon,
Flores recounted all of the countries they had traversed.

"But they don't rob you as much, extort you as much, send you back like when you
arrive here to Mexico," she said. "Here the real nightmare starts, because as
soon as you enter they start taking a lot of your money."

Mexico's immigration system was thrown into chaos on March 27, when migrants
held in a detention center in the border city Juarez, across from El Paso,
Texas, set mattresses on fire inside their cell in apparent protest. The highly
flammable foam mattresses filled the cell with thick smoke in an instant. Guards
did not open the cell and 40 migrants died.

The immigration agency's director was among several officials charged with
crimes ranging from negligence to homicide. The agency closed 33 of its smaller
detention centers while it conducted a review.

Unable to detain many migrants, Mexico instead circulated them around the
country, using brief, repeat detentions, each an opportunity for extortion, said
Gretchen Kuhner, director of IMUMI, a nongovernmental legal services
organization. Advocates called it the "politica de desgaste" or wearing down
policy.

A wooden migrant boat lies grounded on a reef alongside mangroves Jan. 19 at
Harry Harris Park in Tavernier, Fla. Increasing numbers of Cuban and Haitian
migrants have attempted the risky Florida Straits crossing in recent months to
illegally enter Florida.

Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press

Mercado and Flores made it all the way to Matamoros, across the border from
Brownsville, Texas, where they were detained, held for a night in an immigration
facility in the border city of Reynosa and then flown the next morning 650 miles
south to Villahermosa.

There they were released, but without their cell phones, shoelaces and money.
Mercado had to wait for his brother to send $100 so they could start trying to
make their way back to Mexico City through an indirect route that required them
to travel by truck, motorbike and even horse.

In late November, they had just made it back to Mexico City again. This time
Mercado was unequivocal: They would not leave Mexico City until the U.S.
government gave them an appointment to request asylum at a border port of entry.

"It is really hard to make it back here again," he said. "If they manage to send
me back again I don't know what I would do."

2023 IN PHOTOS: EUROPE’S YEAR OF UPHEAVAL, TRANSFORMATION

A Ukrainian MSLR BM-21 "Grad" of 95 Air Assault brigade fires towards Russian
positions at the frontline near Kreminna, Ukraine, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (AP
Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Evgeniy Maloletka

Hungarian men wearing folk costumes pour water onto women during a traditional a
Easter Monday celebration in Holloko, Hungary, Monday, April 10, 2023. (AP
Photo/Denes Erdos)

Denes Erdos

An injured Ukrainian soldier lies on a bed inside a special medical bus during
an evacuation by volunteers from the Hospitallers paramedic organisation in
Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Evgeniy Maloletka

Coco Gauff of the U.S. plays a shot against Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the
Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Monday, June 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Aurelien
Morissard)

Aurelien Morissard

A woman runs past burning shacks during a fire before an eviction by police
officers in Almeria, Spain, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. A migrant camp in southern
Spain's town of Nijar that was set to be demolished Monday has caught fire. Over
400 people live there, many working as temporary workers in farming estates. (AP
Photo/Santi Donaire)

Santi Donaire

Protesters are reflected in a billboard during a demonstration in Lyon, central
France, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Opponents of French President Emmanuel
Macron's pension plan are staging a new round of strikes and protests as a joint
committee of senators and lower-house lawmakers examines the contested bill. (AP
Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Laurent Cipriani

Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho scores his side's first goal during the
English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester United, at
Goodison Park Stadium, in Liverpool, England, Sunday , Nov. 26, 2023. (AP
Photo/Jon Super)

Jon Super

People ski on a slope near Schladming, Austria, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.(AP
Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Matthias Schrader

Ukrainian military doctors treat their injured comrade who was evacuated from
the battlefield at the hospital in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 9,
2023. The serviceman did not survive. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Evgeniy Maloletka

Coal miner Jonny Sandvoll poses for a portrait in the break room of the Gruve 7
coal mine in Adventdalen, Norway, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. Gruve 7, the last
Norwegian mine in one of the fastest warming places on earth, was scheduled to
shut down this year and only got a reprieve through 2025 because of the energy
crisis driven by the war in Ukraine. Sandvoll said he wished people understood
more about coal and its uses before deciding to close the mine. (AP Photo/Daniel
Cole)

Daniel Cole

A stray dog sits near the dead body of a local citizen, killed in Russian
shelling that hit an industrial area in Kherson, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.
(AP Photo/Libkos)

LIBKOS

A family keeps warm by a fire as they follow a rescue team searching for
relatives in earthquake-destroyed buildings in Antakya, southern Turkey,
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Francisco Seco

A woman sits on the rubble as emergency rescue teams search for people under the
remains of destroyed buildings in Nurdagi town on the outskirts of Osmaniye city
southern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. A powerful earthquake hit southeast
Turkey and Syria early Monday, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing and
injuring thousands of people. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Khalil Hamra

View of the Sau reservoir about 100 km (62 miles) north of Barcelona. Spain,
Monday, March 20, 2023. The Sau reservoir's water levels now stand at 9% of
total capacity, according to Catalan Water Agency data, so officials have taken
the decision to remove its fish to stop them from asphyxiating. (AP Photo/Emilio
Morenatti)

Emilio Morenatti

A model poses during a photo shoot for the "L'Imperfetta (The Imperfect) model
agency" in Rome, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Alessandra Tarantino

Police remove the pavement next to the hand of a climate activist during a
protest against the climate policy of the German government in Berlin, Germany,
Monday, April 24, 2023. German climate activists tried bringing traffic to a
standstill in Berlin on Monday morning by gluing themselves to streets all over
the capital. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Markus Schreiber

Participants compete in the men's downhill race during the Cheese Rolling
contest at Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, Monday May 29, 2023.
The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is an annual event where participants
race down the 200-yard (180 m) long hill chasing a wheel of double gloucester
cheese. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Kin Cheung

A Ukrainian police officer takes cover in front of a burning building that was
hit in a Russian airstrike in Avdiivka, Ukraine, Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP
Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Evgeniy Maloletka

Supporters of Turkish President and People's Alliance's presidential candidate
Recep Tayyip Erdogan react as they listen to him during a campaign rally in
Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Francisco Seco

Britain's King Charles III, Camilla, the Queen Consort and Sophie, Duchess of
Edinburgh, right, react as they watch a race at day two of the Royal Ascot horse
racing meeting, at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England, Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Alastair Grant

Pope Francis exchanges his skull cap with one presented by a participant in the
weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April
19, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Alessandra Tarantino

Young cadets sing the national anthem during a graduation ceremony in a cadet
lyceum in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Efrem Lukatsky

South Africa's Jesse Kriel, right, and South Africa's Eben Etzebeth celebrate
after the Rugby World Cup final match between New Zealand and South Africa at
the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. South
Africa won the match 12-11. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Thibault Camus

A model wears a creation as part of the Diesel women's Spring Summer 2024
collection presented in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Luca
Bruno)

Luca Bruno

A person sits amongst the wreckage that was caused by earthquake, in the town of
Imi N'tala, outside Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP
Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Mosa'ab Elshamy

United States' Simone Biles competes in the uneven bars during the women's
all-round final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp,
Belgium, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Virginia Mayo

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave to the crowds from the balcony
of Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony in London, Saturday, May 6,
2023. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Frank Augstein

Police officers check documents of a man in central Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June
25, 2023. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Dmitri Lovetsky

Manchster City players celebrate their 1-0 win at the end of the Champions
League final soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at the Ataturk
Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, June 10, 2023. (AP
Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Thanassis Stavrakis

Fire burns in a forest in Dervenohoria, northwest of Athens, early Tuesday, July
18, 2023. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Petros Giannakouris

Police forces clash with youths in Nanterre, outside Paris, Thursday, June 29,
2023. The death of 17-year-old Nahel by police during a traffic check Tuesday in
the Paris suburb of Nanterre elicited nationwide concern and widespread messages
of indignation and condolences. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 1,200
police were deployed overnight and 2,000 would be out in force Wednesday in the
Paris region and around other big cities to "maintain order." (AP
Photo/Christophe Ena)

Christophe Ena

People steer their stand-up paddle (SUP) boards along the Griboedov Channel
during the annual costumed 'Fontanka' SUP-boards festival in St. Petersburg,
Russia, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Dmitri Lovetsky

An artist of the French RoZeo theater company performs during the B-FIT in the
Street international festival in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP
Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Vadim Ghirda

France's David Gaudu is followed by France's Julian Alaphilippe, center, and
Latvia's Krists Neilands, left, during the fifth stage of the Tour de France
cycling race over 163 kilometers (101 miles) with start in Pau and finish in
Laruns, France, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Daniel Cole

A group of recent high school grads leap as they pose for photos to celebrate
their graduation in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, July 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Jae C. Hong

People gather on a beach in front of burnt forest near Gennadi village, on the
Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece, on Thursday, July 27, 2023.
The wildfires have raged across parts of the country during three successive
Mediterranean heat waves over two weeks, leaving five people dead. (AP
Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Petros Giannakouris

A woman reacts during the annual tomato fight fiesta called "Tomatina" in the
village of Bunol near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP
Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Alberto Saiz

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 53rd brigade fires an RPG-9 toward Russian
positions on the frontline close to Donetsk, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023.
(AP Photo/ Libkos)

LIBKOS

Local residents try to reach their houses in Benijos village as police block the
area as fire advances in La Orotava in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain on
Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez)

Arturo Rodriguez

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, right, runs with the ball next to Las Palmas'
Julian Araujo during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Las
Palmas, at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (AP
Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Manu Fernandez

Ukrainian servicemen walk through a charred forest at the frontline a few
kilometers from Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
Ukrainian brigade's two-month battle to fight its way through a charred forest
shows the challenges of the country's counteroffensive in the east and south.
(AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov)

Mstyslav Chernov

People chant anti-Israel slogans while waving Palestinian flags during a rally
celebrating the attacks that the militant Hamas group carried out against
Israel, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Khalil Hamra

Climate activist Greta Thunberg dances after addressing tens of thousands of
people who marched through Amsterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, to
call for more action to tackle climate change. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Peter Dejong

Police officers clash with pro-Palestinian demonstrators as they try to enter at
a train station in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Emilio
Morenatti)

Emilio Morenatti

A man plants sunflowers in his garden near a damaged Russian tank and its turret
in the village of Velyka Dymerka, Kyiv region, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
(AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Efrem Lukatsky

Ethann Isidore, center left, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge pose for photographers
upon departure from the premiere of the film 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of
Destiny' at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France,
Thursday, May 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Daniel Cole

"Costaleros", who carry on their backs the portable dais platform which supports
a statue of Jesus Christ of the "Padre Jesus Nazareno" brotherhood, participate
in the holy week procession in Priego de Cordoba, southern Spain, Friday, April
7, 2023. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter
Holy Week. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Manu Fernandez

Children ride a model of World War II-era Soviet T-34 tank during a military
historical festival at the family historical tank park outside St. Petersburg,
Russia, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Dmitri Lovetsky

The body of late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI laid out in state inside St. Peter's
Basilica at The Vatican, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Andrew Medichini

A member of the Vehibe family mourns a relative during the burial of one of the
earthquake victims that struck a border region of Turkey and Syria five days ago
in Antakya, southeastern Turkey, on Saturday, February 11, 2023. (AP
Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Bernat Armangue

RELATED TO THIS STORY

richmond.com Open in urlscan Pro 192.104.183.209 Public Scan

Form analysis 16 forms found in the DOM

POST https://richmond.com/users/logout/

GET /search/

GET /search/

GET /search/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

POST /users/admin/list/

Text Content

richmond.com Open in urlscan Pro
192.104.183.209 Public Scan

Form analysis
16 forms found in the DOM