[ad_1]
On October 21, 2018, thousands of Central Americans migrate to Tapachula from Ciudad Hidalgo (Mexico) and head for the United States. (Adrees Latif / Reuters)
CIUDAD HIDALGO, Mexico – As the caravan of migrants from Central America left the border between Mexico and Guatemala and headed north in the heat, it became apparent that the group had swelled in numbers.
"We think there are at least 5,600 now and we expect more with us" in the nearby town of Tapachula, said Rodrigo Aveja, one of the group's organizers.
The group appears to be at least double the size of the caravan that passed through Central America and Mexico this spring, provoking President Trump's outrage over the administration's policy of separation of families.
On Sunday morning, the Mexican authorities did little to prevent the group from crossing in the country from Guatemala. Most members of the caravan crossed the border illegally.
Mexican authorities observed migrants arrive Saturday, sometimes tapping them, but allowing them to go to the central square of Ciudad Hidalgo, where the Central Americans held an informal meeting, cheering "Si, s'puede," whenever new migrants arrived.
[Pompeo meets with Mexican officials as a migrant caravan inches north]
A Honduran migrant who is part of the caravan carries American and Honduran flags as he walks. (Pedro Pardo / AFP / Getty Images)
The border between Mexico and Guatemala has long been known for its porosity. Most days, the goods are exchanged by raft, while the authorities of both countries affix passports on the official deck above. It has never been particularly difficult for migrants to cross the border, and the arrival of the caravan has made enforcement even more difficult, despite the recent deployment by Mexico of additional federal police.
But on Sunday afternoon, the police set up two checkpoints and appeared ready to block the migrants.
"We are here to enforce the laws of our country," said a senior police official, who declined to give his name.
Other police officers said that they planned to offer migrants the opportunity to obtain legal documents in a local shelter, but that they would not hold them or dissuade them. They refused.
Trump seems to hope that the migrant caravan will galvanize its base before the mid-term elections next month. He took advantage of the threat while he had been right to the GOP candidates last week.
"These are bad people coming. They are not babies, they are not little angels entering our country, "he told the White House on Friday.
Read more
"This country does not want them": Trump rails against migrants trying to enter the United States
"Close it all!": Tensions at the border dissipate in the face of Trump's growing frustration
Today's coverage of Swiss Post correspondents around the world
Love Washington Post World on Facebook and stay up to date on foreign news
[ad_2]Source link
