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A caravan of migrants, almost all Hondurans, heads north through Guatemala to Mexico and the United States. This is the last and certainly the largest iteration of a phenomenon that occurred from time to time: large groups from Central America were meeting to face the challenges of migration, their numbers offering security against the criminals who used the northern route.
But this one drew the ire of President Trump, who warned Thursday that he would close the southwestern border of the United States if Mexico did not stop the group. He also reiterated his threat of not suspending foreign aid to the Guatemalan, Honduran and Salvadoran governments.
"I must, in the strongest terms, ask Mexico to end this attack -" he said on Twitter, "and if he is unable to do so, I will call on the US Army and CLOSE OUR SOUTH FRONTIER! "
And for good measure, perhaps with the mid-term elections in mind, he attacked the Democratic Party, blaming it in part for the migrant caravan.
"Let's hope that Mexico stops this attack on their northern border," he wrote in another series of posts on Twitter. "All Democrats blame weak laws!"
Here are answers to some questions about the migrant caravan that upset Trump this week and ignited political concerns in the region.
What is the migrant caravan?
The caravan of migrants was formed late last week in San Pedro Sula, a city in northern Honduras known for its high levels of violence. Originally, it had fewer than 200 people, which corresponds to most previous caravans. But as the news spread, mobilization grew rapidly. By the time the group had crossed the border with Guatemala, its members traveling on foot and by vehicle, it had reached the 1,000 mark.
More and more migrants have joined this week – according to some estimates, there would now be 4,000 extraordinary people – although it split into smaller groups that were making their way to different speeds in Guatemala on Thursday.
Like the hundreds of thousands of migrants who have fled Central America in recent years, most participants in the caravan are considering a new life in the United States, although some say they want to stop in Mexico. Many claim to have been victims of low wages, unemployment and poor public services in Honduras and are looking for better opportunities elsewhere. Others say they fear for their lives and have the intention to seek asylum either in Mexico or in the United States.
In the past, rights groups have used caravans to draw attention to the plight of migrants and the situation in their respective countries. But no group claimed responsibility for organizing this week's caravan.
Why is it so important for President Trump?
Trump has made the fight against illegal immigration a central part of his presidential platform, promising to obtain stricter immigration legislation and build a border wall. But he was not able to get funding to build the wall. And after illegal border crossings dropped in 2017 to their lowest level in more than 40 years, the numbers have started to climb again this year, including the record number of people traveling to families in September, frustrating the Trump administration.
During his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump's ferocious attacks on immigrants have been very successful in shaking his conservative base. And just weeks away from the mid-term elections, he renewed the attacks, warning criminals to cross the border to threaten US citizens and suggesting that undocumented immigrants would cause economic dislocation and job losses.
He used these themes at every campaign rally, which has increased dramatically in recent weeks. And many Republican candidates have adopted his anti-immigrant message in their own races.
In his storm on Twitter inspired by a caravan on Thursday morning, the president wrote: "I'm watching the Democratic Party headed (because it wants open borders and weak laws) to assault our country by Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, whose leaders little to prevent this important flow of people, including many criminals, to enter Mexico in the United States "
How did other governments in the region react?
Trump's initial salvo in his response to the caravan this week targeted the Honduran government, but was quickly expanded to El Salvador and Guatemala. He threatened the three countries to suspend foreign aid if they allowed their citizens to continue traveling to the United States with the intention of entering illegally. Central America has been one of the major sources of undocumented migration to the United States in recent years.
As the caravan had already entered Guatemala, the Honduran government could do nothing to stop its progress, although the administration of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández deployed security forces to a main border post to try to stop the advance. prevent others from joining the migration. The Honduran government has also urged citizens not to join the caravan, calling it a political mobilization against the president.
Meanwhile, the Guatemalan government has arrested a former Honduran legislator who was traveling with the caravan, accusing him of failing to comply with the immigration rules.
Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales rejected Trump's threats, telling reporters he rejected the constraints on foreign aid. He also said he had discussed with his Honduran counterpart, President Juan Orlando Hernández, the need to ensure the safe return of migrants who decide to return home, Reuters reported.
In Mexico, the government has deployed about 700 national police officers to the southern border and issued statements warning caravan participants against any attempt at illegal entry into the country.
Some migrants associated with the caravan began arriving Wednesday at the border between Guatemala and Mexico, gathering in the city of Ciudad Tecún Umán. This stretch of the border, bounded by the Suchiate River, is very porous and is a busy road for undocumented migrants heading north.
On Thursday afternoon, some participants had already entered Mexico illegally on rafts that plied the river and settled in temporary shelters managed by the local municipality, Ciudad Hidalgo. But hundreds of others remained on the Guatemalan side of the border to await the arrival of the rest of the caravan.
Mexican immigration authorities have stated that migrants with valid documents and visas would be allowed to enter, but those who attempt to enter illegally would be detained and deported. Asylum seekers or other forms of protection may apply, but will have to wait up to 45 days in a detention center, officials said.
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo traveled to Panama on Thursday to meet with President Juan Carlos Varela. He then plans to travel to Mexico, where he will meet Friday President Enrique Peña Nieto, among other officials. Migration and the caravan will certainly be among the top priorities of the Mexico City agenda.
