Migrants in Mexico sew mouths shut in border protest 

On Tuesday, about a dozen undocumented migrants attempting to reach the United States border sewed their mouths shut in a gruesome protest over the fact that the Mexican government has refused to let them in.

Photos taken by Reuters show the people, most of whom are Central and South Americans, using needles and plastic threads to tie their lips together.

The protest is taking place in Mexico’s southern border city of Tapachula, as the migrants, some of whom were carrying children with them, left a small gap which would allow them to drink liquids. “I’m doing it for my daughter,” said Venezuelan Yorgelis Rivera. “She has not eaten anything in the last few hours and I see no solution from authorities.” She continued, “We are like prisoners here.” 

Migrants numbering in the thousands have spent several months in Tapachula, which shares a border with Guatemala, as they all are waiting for Mexico’s migration agency to let them cross the country on their way to the U.S. border.

Rivera noted that she has been waiting for a response for more than a month now. “The migrants are sewing their lips together as a sign of protest,” said Irineo Mujica, who is participating as in activist at the protest. “We hope that the National Migration Institute can see that they are bleeding, that they are human beings.” 

Authorities with the National Migration Institute have described the protest as “worrying.” The agency continued in a statement, “It is worrying that these measures have been carried out with the consent and support of those who call themselves their representatives, with the intention of pressuring authorities on an attention already provided.”

The agency noted that it receives over 100 applications each day in the city as it continues to tend to cases that are being processed.