For many Mexicans and Central Americans who successfully migrated to the United States, La Bestia is forever etched into their memories. La Bestia is the name given to a series of Mexican freight trains that run the length of Mexico, making it heavily utilized by individuals hoping to reach the United States. It is, however, illegal and very dangerous. Yearly, around 500,000 migrants are estimated to ride La Bestia. Many of these migrants are Central Americans crossing through Mexico on their way to the United States. This choice of transportation, however, presents many dangers.
Migrants on La Bestia are prone to physical injuries and legal ramifications. Physical dangers include severe pain and death from rail accidents, caused by falling off while asleep or because of severe weather or extreme tiredness. Migrants who fall from the trains are often killed on impact or left suffering and undiscovered for so long that they eventually die. Furthermore, there are many stops along the way where migrants could be discovered, such as Mexican immigration checkpoints and detention centers. Under recent U.S. pressure, the Mexican government has taken a stronger stance against these travelers. Immigration agents, backed by federal police and the Mexican military, are now actively capturing migrants from the trains and raiding cheap hotels along their route. The government then deports the Central Americans. In addition, the government has said it will invest millions of dollars to upgrade the trains’ speed so it becomes even harder to jump on. As a result, the number of migrants heading north by way of La Bestia has recently declined.
