Many migrants manage to make their way to major roads and highways, only to end up arrested at roadblocks. Its southern border, however, passes through territory too rough and wild to be closely monitored. Like the United States, Mexico regularly detains migrants who have entered the country illegally. But he addressed the issue this week during a meeting in Honduras with President Juan Orlando Hernandez by saying that every migrant passing through Mexico would receive “absolute respect for their human rights.” Peña Nieto has not agreed to a meeting with the ragtag crew. They hoped to persuade him to guarantee U.S.-bound Central American migrants unmolested passage along Mexico’s highways, so they would no longer have to sneak onto the roof of La Bestia, and hang on for dear life. On March 22, the men had floated across the Suchiate River, the dividing line between Mexico and Guatemala, on inner-tube rafts and promptly demanded a meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. They were seeking safe passage for the thousands of migrants who keep making the trip.
“Our American Dream has turned into a nightmare,” said Jose Luis Hernandez, who was missing his right leg and arm and three fingers on his left hand. These hobbled men in sweat-stained T-shirts were no longer in search of the American Dream. This week Varela, 42, was back in Mexico, this time with crutches and a wobbly prosthesis, accompanied by 14 countrymen whom the Beast had similarly mangled. It rolled over his right leg, severing it at the knee. As Varela made his escape, he ducked under a freight car. 29, 2005, a rumor spread that more bad men were coming. Mexican policemen robbed the Honduran of his savings en route, he said. TAPACHULA, Mexico - The last time Norman Varela made an unauthorized crossing into Mexico, he was headed to the United States, in search of a job, riding atop the infamous northbound freight train known as La Bestia - the Beast.