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A caravan of Central American migrants who drew numerous tirades on Twitter from President Donald Trump before the midterm elections in the United States sat rested and rallied Monday in a stadium became a shelter in Mexico City before continuing.
In order to reach the United States, about 5,000 migrants, mainly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, plagued by violence, are expected to converge on Mexico City in the coming days, then continue their northward, announced the authorities.
The first 470 arrived Sunday in Mexico City and spent the night in a stadium on the east side of the capital, where authorities have set up a large camp to welcome them and provide food and water.
By late Monday morning, about 2,000 people had arrived at the camp. According to the National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH), another 3,000 people are expected to arrive on Wednesday. The fragmented caravan will regroup after being dispersed in central and eastern Mexico.
Migrants sleep in tents, on the ground or on the stadium's cement bleachers, in icy cold temperatures of around 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit) at Mexico's high altitude.
Many had colds or mutilated feet after a 1,600-kilometer hike that began on Oct. 13 in the city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
"I could not sleep, I was cold and coughing all night," said Honduran resident Karla Membreno, 23, who travels with her husband and brother-in-law.
But "we must be strong, God gives us the strength to continue," she told AFP.
Medical staff were taking care of migrants and giving flu shots at improvised clinics in the stadium.
Other migrants were busy rummaging through large piles of donated clothes looking for coats, gloves or anything to protect themselves from the cold.
– Nearly 5,000 border soldiers –
Two other major groups in Central America, with between 3,000 and 4,000 migrants, are currently crossing the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca in southern Mexico, the CNDH said.
According to the Interior Ministry, another 3,230 Americans from Central America traveling by caravan have sought asylum in Mexico.
Trump has made immigration a central topic before the mid-term vote on Tuesday, considered a referendum on his presidency up to now.
Calling the caravan a "national emergency", he had commanded 4,800 active troops on Monday at the border and threatened to deploy up to 15,000 men.
He also said that the caravan, which remains about 1,000 kilometers from the border, includes members of the violent MS-13 street gang and "unknowns from the Middle East".
The CNDH, however, denied the existence of evidence that criminals or persons likely to pose a risk to safety were traveling in the caravan.
"About 75% of them are women, children, elderly people and other vulnerable people.The others are mainly young men and their families.Very few of them travel alone "said Gustavo Rodriguez Zarate, head of programs for migrant aid for the Catholic Archdiocese. from Puebla.
He added that the migrants were traveling together to protect themselves from the many risks inherent in this trip. Mexican gangs routinely extort, kidnap or murder Central Americans trying to reach the United States.
"They are told not to split into groups under the age of 50, because that would expose them more to being the target of criminals," Zarate said.
Many migrants flee poverty and insecurity in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala – the "North Triangle" of Central America – where powerful street gangs dominate their territory with brutal violence.
They still do not know exactly which route they will take, when or how.
"When the rest of the caravan arrives, we will talk about what to do," said Teresa Estrada, a 23-year-old Guatemalan.
With the goal of reaching the United States, some 5,000 migrants, mainly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, plagued by violence, are expected to converge on Mexico City in the coming days and then continue. their journey north.
The road of three caravans of migrants heading towards the north of Mexico and the United States.
Migrants sleep in tents, on the floor or on the stadium's cement bleachers, at a chilly night temperature of about 54 degrees Fahrenheit in Mexico City.
By late Monday morning, about 2,000 people had arrived at the camp; Another 3,000 are expected to arrive by Wednesday, the fragmented caravan regrouping after being dispersed in central and eastern Mexico
Many migrants flee poverty and insecurity in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala – the "North Triangle" of Central America – where powerful street gangs dominate their territory with brutal violence
