The Migrant Caravan Moves Towards The Border

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

The caravan of Central American migrants that left more than a week ago from Honduras arrived on Mexican soil this Sunday and is making its way towards the northern border.

What started as a group of approximately 1,500 people - including children, the elderly and pregnant women - has become a group that, by crossing the Suchiate River that divides Mexico and Guatemala, now totals 7,000 people, according to calculations. from the authorities.

The caravan, like many others previously formed, seeks to draw attention to the violence and lack of opportunities experienced by Hondurans and many Central Americans. The difference is that this Migrant Way of the Cross, as it has been called, has become the center of attention of President Donald Trump, who has called the group's progress a "national emergency" and has threatened to close the border.

On Monday, the 72-year-old president said through Twitter that the financial aid destined for Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador will be "cut or substantially reduced" as a result of the inaction of these countries to stop the group of migrants.

In another tweet, Trump regretted what he considers lack of action by the Mexican authorities before the arrival of the group. "Sadly, it seems that the Mexican police and army have been unable to stop the caravan that is heading towards the southern border of the United States," he exclaimed. "There are criminals and people from the Middle East mixed. I have already alerted the Border Patrol to this national emergency. We must change the laws!”

The caravan left San Pedro Sula, in Honduras, last October 12. At the time, the Mexican authorities assured that no one would enter the country without the corresponding visa. But the authorities have been overwhelmed and have simply limited themselves to escorting migrants through the state of Chiapas to where they have traveled on foot, in cars or even swimming.

The hope of some is that the Mexican authorities will be able to convince a large part of the migrants to take refuge in the asylum and desist from advancing towards the border. However, so far the group has only grown and received support from the civilian population in its wake, receiving food, drinks and signs of solidarity.