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TECUN UMAN, Guatemala – Latest news from a caravan of migrants from Central America in the hope of reaching the United States (all local times):
9:20 p.m.
Migrant Gonzalo Martinez said he was voluntarily returning to Honduras after a bridge linking Guatemala and Mexico, disappointed by the inertia of the caravan members and simply wanted to return home.
"We thought the caravan was passive but there were unruly people, I was disappointed," said the 37-year-old farmer while he was boarding a bus to Tecun Uman, Guatemala, for bring him back to Honduras.
Martinez was referring to clashes with the police when migrants forcibly broke through a barrier at the Guatemalan border and then tried to enter Mexico before being prevented by the Mexican police.
He stated that he was attempting to emigrate from the Lempira province to the United States because of the violence in Honduras.
"They killed relatives. they shot my father and also tried to kill me, "he said, adding that the $ 4 daily salary he earned was not enough to feed his family of seven.
Martinez was one of 500 Honduran migrants who returned voluntarily to their country.
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17:30.
About 2,000 Central American migrants who crossed a Guatemalan river in Mexico voted by show of hands to reform their caravan and continue their march north.
The migrants in question crossed the river without signing up, unlike other people treated by Mexican immigration agents on a border bridge.
Rodrigo Abeja is one of the leaders of the caravan. He says that tomorrow morning they will go to the city of Tapachula.
In his words, "we do not know yet whether we will go to the (US) border, but we will continue to go as far as we can."
Migrants gathered in a park on the Mexican side of the river scream, "Let's all walk together!" And "Yes, we can!"
Some of them are heading to the bridge to urge those who are still there to join them.
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5:10 p.m.
The Mexican government's National Human Rights Commission said it was working to secure the rights of migrants in a mass-blocked caravan on the country's southern border with Guatemala.
The commission said in a statement that its agents were providing bottled water and medical care for minor injuries caused by falls, fights, tear gas and anxiety after the blocking of migrants by the police on Friday.
He says that he has looked after nine children; 18 women, two pregnant; six men; police officers injured during the clashes; and a reporter from Quadratin Noticias who was also injured.
Commission staff provide legal advice to migrants, including on asylum procedures.
Nevertheless, it is reported that there was no confirmation of the migratory status of those who were taken to a temporary shelter. The Committee urges the authorities to provide this information.
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4:40 p.m.
On Saturday afternoon, the border bridge between Guatemala and Mexico, where thousands of migrants spent the night after being prevented from passing the Mexican police, is considerably more empty.
Many chose to cross the Suchiate River on Mexican soil by wading, swimming or using rafts driven by local residents, for the equivalent of about US $ 1.25. Others asked for asylum and were allowed to break into small groups.
Many who stay on the bridge are women, children and the elderly. As children walk and play, adults sit on a sidewalk and wonder, and then?
There are many piles of garbage and clothes to wear.
Carlos Martinez is a 24 year old man from Santa Barbara, Honduras. Residents of the Guatemalan side brought food for the migrants and the plate of chicken with rice was the first bite of his day.
Martinez called the food given "a blessing" that gives him the courage to "wait, as long as I can".
Another group prayed to God for it to pass on Mexican territory.
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1:15 p.m.
Mexican authorities have authorized a second group of about 45 migrants to be treated at the border with Guatemala.
They also started giving some people 45-day visit permits, which would theoretically allow them time to reach the US border. Other migrants have applied for refugee status in Mexico.
Once they have been treated, the migrants are taken to an open-air amusement park with a metal roof in the city of Tapachula. There, the Red Cross installs small blue tents on the concrete floor.
At least three women fainted at the treatment center just beyond the doors. The bridge is congested and whenever a small side door opens to receive migrants, there is a desperate crash of bodies advancing in the heat.
People at the door are shouting: "Please, let us in, we want to work."
Under the bridge, a raft loaded with about 10 migrants crossed the Mexican side. About a dozen other migrants swam. None of them was apparently arrested despite the presence of hundreds of police lined up on the bridge.
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11:50
In a mass caravan on the border between Mexico and Guatemala, many Central Americans seem inclined to seek refugee status in Mexico, although most initially intended to surrender to Mexico. in the USA.
Scarleth Cruz, 20, says she is going to apply for political asylum in Mexico because of the threats and repression she suffered at home, in Honduras, from the ruling party's party. President Juan Orlando Hernandez.
She said, "Why would I want to go to the United States if I'm going to be persecuted?"
Hondurans have also invoked poverty and gang threats to justify their joining the mass caravan.
Hector Aguilar is a 49-year-old sales manager who worked as a taxi driver in Yoro province to feed his four children. Aguilar says that he had to pay protection money to the two main gangs to be able to work. On Thursday, he gave the equivalent of $ 12.50 to the 18th Street gang and on Saturday the same amount to MS-13. This is a considerable sum in Honduras where wages are low.
On Saturday, Mexican agents unlocked a small side door and allowed a group of about 40 migrants to be treated.
In the heat and crushing of the bodies, a woman fainted and was carried to the Mexican side in the arms of the rescuers.
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11:10
The Mexican authorities refuse to yield to the demands of a caravan of Central American migrants to allow them to enter the country from a massive border crossing with Guatemala, where they camped during the night.
Officials announced that they would distribute numbers to people waiting to cross and allow them to enter in small groups.
This is a strategy similar to that seen in US border towns when they were overwhelmed by large numbers of migrants.
Those on deck watched with desperation on Saturday as workers began erecting high steel riot barriers.
Scarleth Cruz, 20, lifted a crying girl out of the crowd and drenched in sweat. She cried out, "This girl is suffocating."
Some tore up a fence on the Guatemalan side of the bridge and threw two young children, perhaps six or seven years old, and their mother into the Suchiate River, about 20 meters under the river. They were safely taken on a raft in Mexican territory.
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8:50
The organizers of a caravan of migrants attempting to cross to Mexico and ultimately the United States seem to want to avoid a repeat of the border race with Guatemala that ended when Mexican security forces repulsed with riot shields and pepper spray.
Women and children headed to the front of the caravan on Saturday, while the men were at the back.
They also moved about 9 meters away from the gate that separates them from the Mexican police to establish a buffer zone. They had crossed the door Friday but the police had almost all taken them.
There are still about 1,000 migrants on the bridge between Guatemala and Mexico.
Selvin Flores, a 35-year-old trader from the Honduran city of Nacaome, said people who "caused trouble" were expelled from the group and turned over to the Guatemalan police. He said the remaining migrants "do not want misunderstandings".
Flores has three children and says that he sometimes skips meals to make sure they're eating.
He said he wanted to join the United States to work and save money before returning to Honduras. He says it's painful for him to leave his country, but he did it "out of necessity".
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7:30
Thousands of migrants from Central America participating in a caravan heading to the United States woke up on a bridge that separates the borders of Guatemala and Mexico.
The migrants have neither water supply nor food and have slept among the garbage that has accumulated along the way. Without bathrooms, a foul odor floated in the air.
Jose Yanez woke up at 5 am and said that he had back pain.
The 25-year-old farmer did not have a blanket to protect himself from the cold, but promised to continue.
"From there, we continue. From there, no turning back, "he said.
He said he earned 150 lempiras a day, about US $ 6, without benefits.
On the Mexican side of the border, a group of about 30 migrants sang Honduras' national anthem.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.
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