Mexican authorities have taken drastic measures to block migrants from hitching rides on freight trains to the United States. The freight trains, commonly referred to as "The Beast," have been a popular method of transportation for thousands of migrants attempting to cross the Mexico-U.S. border illegally. In response to recent injuries and deaths caused by migrants attempting to climb aboard the trains, the Mexican railway company Ferromex temporarily suspended 60 trains in the northern part of the country. This suspension prompted the Mexican National Migration Institute (INM) to deploy agents to dissuade migrants from boarding the trains.

In the town of Huehuetoca, just north of Mexico City, around 40 INM agents drove alongside the railway tracks in a fleet of vans to prevent migrants from accessing the trains. They also utilized a drone to locate and monitor migrants who had fled into the surrounding hills. One Venezuelan migrant named Jason expressed frustration, stating, "They forced us away from the rail. We have no other options anymore." As a result, migrants were forced to retreat on foot to the nearest town, carrying backpacks and jugs of water under the scorching sun.

The INM announced that it will be collaborating with Ferromex to identify strategic points to deter migrants from attempting to board the trains. Ferromex emphasized the grave danger associated with jumping onto moving freight cars and revealed that there have been a "half-dozen regrettable cases of injuries or deaths" caused by migrants in recent days.

This crackdown on migrant transportation via freight trains comes at a time when both Mexican and U.S. border officials are grappling with an overwhelming number of migrants seeking to enter the United States. Despite the U.S. government's stern message urging migrants not to make the journey, many continue to undertake the perilous trek. In the Rio Grande Valley sector in Texas alone, there were over 20,000 migrants in Border Patrol custody last month, including families with infants, children, and unaccompanied minors.

The situation has prompted Ferromex, Mexico's largest freight company, to temporarily halt 60 trains in the northern region. The company cited an “unprecedented” number of migrants hitching rides to the U.S. border as the reason for the mass service suspension. A viral video showing hundreds of migrants packed into one of Ferromex's trains further highlighted the severity of the situation. The routes affected by the suspension include train service to U.S. border cities such as Ciudad Ju??rez, Mexicali, Nogales, and Piedras Negras.

The suspension of train operations could have broader implications, potentially impacting international trade and negatively affecting Mexican industrial states with ties to the U.S. market. Grupo Mexico, the parent company of Ferromex, stated that this is the first time since the railway's establishment in 1998 that it has had to shut down due to migrants hitchhiking on the trains.

According to Ferromex, over 4,000 migrants have boarded cargo trains in various cities, with one train heading to Ciudad Ju??rez reportedly carrying as many as 1,000 hitchhikers. The company also revealed that there are currently 1,500 migrants waiting for a train in Torreon, a railyard in the northern border state of Coahuila, and 800 migrants waiting in Irapuato, a city in the north-central state of Guanajuato.

Migrants have explained that they are resorting to boarding the cargo trains due to delays in obtaining appointments with U.S. Border Patrol. Heyder, a Venezuelan migrant, shared his experience, stating that he decided to board a train to Ciudad Ju??rez after waiting over three months in northern Mexico for an appointment through a U.S. government smartphone app. He expressed the desperation felt by many migrants, saying, "We are risking everything aboard the train, our lives, everything, because in our countries there is no hope."

It is worth noting that cartels have been encouraging migrants to head to the border and overwhelm border operations. The city of El Paso has experienced surges of up to 1,700 migrants per day voluntarily surrendering to Border Patrol officers. On Tuesday, there were 4,600 individuals in CBP custody in El Paso, highlighting the strain on resources.

As both Mexico and the United States face the challenges posed by the increasing number of migrants, authorities are taking steps to address the situation. The recent enforcement efforts by Mexican authorities to block migrants from using freight trains as a means of transportation demonstrate the complexities and dangers associated with irregular migration.