Haitians stranded in Tapachula as asylum systems stall

A year ago Jean Baptiste Gensley arrived in Tapachula with a small backpack and the hope his journey was over. In Haiti he had worked as a radio journalist and social worker, but after gangs burned his home and the radio station he left his wife and son in the Dominican Republic and travelled north, arriving in Tapachula with “no money left.” He registered with Mexico’s refugee agency, Comar, and then spent months waiting for news.

Delays have been worsened by cuts to international funding. After the United States reduced support to the UN, the UN refugee agency suspended some financial aid for Comar; the US had previously provided more than 86% of UNHCR’s work in Mexico and Comar relies on the UN for roughly 60% of its budget.

UNHCR says it continues to prioritise essential support despite a cut of more than 50%, but shelters have closed and millions worldwide lost assistance. Migrants in Tapachula face restrictions that keep them in the city and force fortnightly check‑ins, while work is often informal and poorly paid.

Mexico, Tapachula

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