Introduction

Mobility and migration are phenomena inherent to the history of humanity, but in the contemporary context they present themselves with a complexity and diversity of dimensions that often challenge the analytical capacities of the social sciences. These phenomena not only respond to structural crises - such as socioeconomic inequalities and political conflicts - but also to processes such as globalization, climate change and the technologization of communications. Migration, understood as a multifaceted process, encompasses aspects ranging from the economic and political to the cultural, religious and technological, elements that are in constant interaction.

The main objective of this dossier is to contribute to the critical analysis of the routes, experiences and networks that shape migratory mobility in the region. In particular, it emphasizes the intersection between geographical borders, understood as state boundaries and also as spaces of interaction and tension; digital technologies, which have reconfigured migrants' strategies and narratives; the strategies of individual and collective agency that emerge in the face of contexts of vulnerability; as well as the structural frameworks that shape, restrict or facilitate migratory trajectories.

This volume focuses on the migration corridors that cross Latin America, with special emphasis on the routes that connect the Darien Gap with the northern border of Mexico. These routes, although recognized for their danger and the vulnerability they imply for those who travel them, are also scenarios of resilience, adaptation and creativity. The texts gathered here examine, from interdisciplinary perspectives, the processes of forced migration and their implications in terms of human rights, emerging economies and transnational support networks. At the same time, the relevance of innovative methodologies, such as ethno-surveys and geographic information systems (sig), which are a sample of contemporary migratory dynamics.

The migration phenomenon in Latin America is conditioned by a unique combination of factors that interact in a dynamic and complex manner. First, the geopolitical configuration of the region - characterized by a network of borders that not only delimit state spaces, but also function as zones of cultural and economic exchange - defines the trajectories of migrants and the experiences they accumulate in their displacement. These borders, more than mere dividing lines, become spaces of tension and negotiation, where migrants face state controls, but also find support and solidarity.

Second, changes in migration and security policies, implemented in countries of origin, transit and destination, have significantly altered the migration landscape. These transformations, driven by a combination of political, economic and security interests, have intensified the risks associated with displacement, including exposure to trafficking networks, violence and exploitation. At the same time, such policies have led to the emergence of new, often more dangerous and less visible, migration routes and strategies that migrants adopt to circumvent imposed barriers.

Finally, the irruption of digital technologies and social media has radically transformed the way migrants organize, document and experience their journeys. Platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok have become key tools for sharing information, forming virtual communities and coordinating movements, redefining migration strategies and expanding the possibilities for individual and collective agency. However, this "digitalized migration" also brings with it new challenges, such as surveillance, misinformation and digital exploitation, which directly impact the safety and well-being of migrants.

Thus, this dossier is organized around six contributions that reflect the breadth and depth of migration issues in Latin America. The first chapter, "From the Darien Gap to the Tapachula Gap" by América A. Navarro López and Alberto Hernández Hernández, analyzes new migratory routes and migrants' strategies to circumvent border controls; it highlights the perception of Tapachula as a "prison city". The second chapter, "Social Media and Digital Platforms in the Migratory Journey," written by Alberto Hernández Hernández, Carlos S. Ibarra and Arturo Fabián Jiménez, examines the impact of digital technologies on the organization and documentation of migratory experiences, revealing both the opportunities and risks associated with digitization. For their part, Abbdel Camargo and Iván Porraz, in "Ethnography of the migrant route", offer a detailed analysis of the "walkers" who transit the coastal highway in Chiapas, exploring the ways in which information and accumulated experience shape migratory trajectories. In the fourth chapter, in "Devotions in transit", Blanca Mónica Marín Valadez addresses the religious expressions of migrants as symbolic strategies of resistance and community building in a context of extreme vulnerability. The next chapter, "Migratory processes and shelter networks in Mexico" by Rafael Alonso Hernández, explores the role of civil society organizations in providing humanitarian spaces and building support networks for migrant populations in transit. Finally, Jéssica Nájera, in "Venezuelans in Costa Rica", uses the ethno-survey as a methodological tool to explore the experiences of Venezuelan migrants in San José and to highlight the complexity of family adjustments and social networks in the migratory context.

The findings presented in these texts advance knowledge about migration and also provide a solid basis for the formulation of public policies that recognize the humanity and agency of migrants. This effort to integrate interdisciplinary perspectives and empirical data underscores the need to expand collaborations among researchers, activists, policy makers and migrant communities to address the challenges and opportunities of this global phenomenon.

At a time in history when human mobility is increasingly conditioned by climate crises, socioeconomic inequalities and emerging technologies, it is essential to make an analysis that transcends traditional approaches and allows us to glimpse the possibilities of a more equitable and humanitarian future.