{"word_count": 281, "character_count": 1998}
 "Mexico has long been accused of turning a blind eye to Central American migrants traveling through the country en route to the United States. With the recent unaccompanied child migration crisis garnering major U.S. public and policymaker attention, the trains that have served as unofficial conduits for some of this migration have come under scrutiny, prompting the Mexican government to take action. As many as half a million Central American immigrants annually hop aboard freight trains colloquially known as “La Bestia,” or the beast, on their journey to the United   States. The cargo trains, which run along multiple lines, carry products north for export. As there are no passenger railcars, migrants must ride atop the moving trains, facing physical dangers that range from amputation to death if they fall or are pushed. Beyond the dangers of the trains themselves, Central American migrants are subject to extortion and violence at the hands of the gangs and organized-crime groups that control the routes north. In the past, Central Americans encountered little opposition from public authorities when crossing into Mexico and boarding a freight train. The response changed in July 2014 when the Mexican government announced measures to prevent migrants from climbing aboard the trains—including increased border patrols and road checkpoints—and the railroads ordered an increase in the speed of the trains. This article will examine the journey aboard La Bestia, the dangers faced by migrants transiting through Mexico, and the responses of various stakeholders, including governments and the train operators, to protect and deter unauthorized migrants."  (...) http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/central-american-migrants-and-la-bestia-route-&#160;Source: Martin Gabriel Barron Cruz, La Bestia: La tenue linea entre la migracion y la trata de personas (Mexico: Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Penales, 2013), www.inacipe.gob.mx/stories/publicaciones/temas_selectos/LaBestia.pdf.