Thousands of Central American migrants are slowly advancing toward the U.S. border, as they defy efforts of four governments to break them up.
The mostly Honduran migrants rose at dawn this morning from the shores of a river between Guatemala and Mexico and continued their trek northward, overwhelming Mexican government attempts to stop them at the border.
Their numbers swelled from 2,000 to about 5,000 overnight and at first light they set out walking toward the Mexican town of Tapachula, 10 abreast in a line stretching approximately a mile.
Several hundred more already had applied for refugee status in Mexico and an estimated 1,500 were still on the Guatemalan side of the Suchiate River, hoping to enter legally.
People in the caravan cited widespread poverty and gang violence in Honduras, one of the world’s deadliest nations by homicide rate, as their reasons for fleeing.
President Trump fired off a tweet this afternoon, saying: “Full efforts are being made to stop the onslaught of illegal aliens from crossing our Southern Border.”
Full efforts are being made to stop the onslaught of illegal aliens from crossing our Souther Border. People have to apply for asylum in Mexico first, and if they fail to do that, the U.S. will turn them away. The courts are asking the U.S. to do things that are not doable!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2018
“People have to apply for asylum in Mexico first, and if they fail to do that, the U.S. will turn them away. The courts are asking the U.S. to do things that are not doable!”
Then Trump blamed the Democrats for the migration crisis, despite his own party having control of Congress.
The Caravans are a disgrace to the Democrat Party. Change the immigration laws NOW!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2018
The migrants pose a challenge to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto’s promise late last week to stop the travelers’ plans to press ahead to the U.S. border without the proper documents.
As the U.S.-bound caravan moved into Mexico, Mexican police in riot gear were deployed at highway junctions and a military helicopter circled overhead, prompting many migrants to wonder if police will make mass arrests and seek to turn the caravan back.
Many of the bedraggled travelers of the swollen caravan appeared determined to keep moving, saying they are fleeing a toxic mix of violence, poverty and endemic corruption and would not turn back.
The multitude of migrants clogged the highway leading north from the border city of Ciudad Hidalgo in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, many breaking into song.
Trump has threatened to halt aid to Honduras and Guatemala, and potentially close down the U.S. border with Mexico with the help of the military if the migrants’ march is not stopped.
Mexico’s government has said throughout the past week that it would register the migrants and process requests for asylum. Those attempting to skip the process would face deportation, but the size of the caravan will test Mexico, which has sought help from the U.N. to manage the issue.