On December 21, 2024, a group of 40 migrants—originating from Cuba, Honduras, and Ecuador—disappeared without a trace off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico.
Six months later, no authority has taken any real action to find them, while families remain engulfed in uncertainty, facing extortion, threats, and an institutional silence that weighs like a tombstone, reports the Spanish newspaper El País in an extensive report.
The outlet reconstructs the events stating that the migrants left the small village of San José El Hueyate, a key point for human and goods trafficking northward. That day, they boarded two boats headed for Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca.
At 8:25 a.m., the GPS signal disappeared in the Pacific Ocean, just a few meters from the shore, and there has been no news since.
Among the missing are at least eight Cubans: Elianis Morejón (19), Dayranis Tan (33), Jorge Lozada (24), Meiling Bravo (40) and her son Samei Reyes (14), Lorena (28), Ricardo Hernández (33) and Jefferson Quindil (21), the latter being of Ecuadorian nationality but included in the Cuban family networks for search efforts.
Many left from Managua, Nicaragua, and paid between $8,000 and $10,000 for a supposedly safe journey to Mexico City.
The group met for the first time in Tapachula, Chiapas, a border city with Guatemala. From there, they were taken to a house in San José El Hueyate.
Through messages, calls, and videos sent to family members, it is known that they lived under armed surveillance, in precarious conditions, and showing signs of fear.
On the 21st, before boarding the boats, several warned their loved ones: “We don't know how to swim,” “they are putting life jackets on us,” “there are shootings nearby.”
The last location of the group was recorded at sea. Since then, there have been multiple versions: that they were detained by Immigration, that they shipwrecked, that they are held by organized crime.
Families have been victims of extortion: fake coyotes have demanded ransom payments, some exceeding 10,000 dollars, without providing any proof of life.
The Chiapas Prosecutor's Office and the Attorney General's Office (FGR) have not responded to the complaints or conducted search operations.
The Justice Foundation, which represents the families, has filed a complaint with the FGR.
“No effort is being made to look for them. It’s as if the State has erased them,” warns Yesenia Váldez, a lawyer for the organization, as cited by El País.
In Mexico, there are more than 129,000 missing persons. In 2024, at least 237 migrants were reported missing while en route to the U.S., many in areas controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel or the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
THE MISSING CUBANS:
The Spanish newspaper notes that Elianis Morejón, a student of Medical Radio Physics in Colón, Cuba, dreamed of writing a book about her journey. “The last thing she told me was: ‘Take care of Lulú,’ her little dog,” her mother recalls with tears in her eyes.
Meiling Bravo and her son Samei Reyes left Havana in search of a better life. She worked in a bank; he, a teenage computing enthusiast, dropped out of high school.
Jorge Lozada, from Santiago de Cuba, wanted to reunite with his wife in the U.S. "I just want to bring my son, no matter what, I want to have him with me," his mother cries out from the island.
Ricardo Hernández, a Honduran national, was extorted, and his sister Lilian has navigated through all the Mexican authorities without success: “How can so many people disappear and no one knows?” she questions.
Dayranis Tan, from Camagüey, aspired to work in Mexico. She wanted to support her two children, who are currently under the care of their grandmother, who still holds out hope of finding her, the report emphasizes.
The disappearance of these migrants highlights institutional indifference and the unchecked advance of organized crime in southern Mexico. It also reflects a humanitarian tragedy that affects hundreds of families across the continent.
The mothers, fathers, sisters, and children of the missing do not ask for miracles. They only want answers. Justice. And to have their loved ones back.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Disappearance of Cuban Migrants in Mexico
What happened to the missing Cuban migrants in Chiapas?
On December 21, 2024, a group of 40 migrants, including at least eight Cubans, vanished without a trace off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico. They departed from San José El Hueyate and boarded boats heading to Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca. The GPS signal turned off in the Pacific Ocean, and since then, there has been no reliable information about their whereabouts.
What actions have the Mexican authorities taken regarding the disappearance of migrants?
So far, Mexican authorities, such as the Chiapas Prosecutor's Office and the Attorney General's Office, have not responded to the reports nor conducted significant search operations to find the missing migrants, which has created a strong feeling of abandonment and helplessness among the victims' families.
What are the possible causes of the disappearance of migrants in Mexico?
There are several hypotheses about what may have happened to the migrants, including the possibility that they were detained by Immigration, that they may have shipwrecked, or that they are in the hands of organized crime. However, none of these theories have been officially confirmed.
What role does organized crime play in the disappearances of migrants in Mexico?
Organized crime has a significant impact on migration routes to the United States and exploits the vulnerability of migrants to extort, kidnap, and subject them to various forms of abuse. The Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels are known for controlling key areas along these routes.
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