Transmigrants Caught in Bureaucratic Limbo

Posted: Jun 6, 2012 3:24 PM
Updated: Jun 6, 2012 6:33 PM

LOS INDIOS - Thousands of Central Americans had become entangled in a bureaucratic state of limbo since Mexican customs officials on Sunday began refusing them passage back to their home countries.

The problem, officials say, was that the computer system used to process the transmigrants' paperwork was being upgraded. Mexican authorities say the upgrade is complete and traffic should resume shortly.

Edgar Orellana, one of the transmigrants stranded just outside of Los Indios said the delay is costing him money and eroding his morale.

"We were caught off-guard. We planned to cross the border Monday. By Thursday we were scheduled to arrive in Guatemala," Orellana said.

The transmigrants enter the U.S. with special permits from the federal government and buy goods like scrap metal and salvaged vehicles. They later return to Central America and sell the products for a profit.

Orellana and other transmigrants were forced to sleep in the cars and trucks they are taking back to their countries.

"We sleep uncomfortably in the cars," Orellana said. "We're tired after driving 2,150 miles from there to here. We want to go home. We want to be with our families."

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