Thousands of migrants are fleeing their home countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala in order to escape from violence and poverty to pursue a better life in Mexico and the United States. Many of the migrants are planning to apply for asylum in Mexico and the United States although certain complications have interrupted the journey and the application process.
The caravan started in San Pedro Sula, one of the most violent cities in Honduras. The group of about 200 or less people gathered together and started their journey. The planning process for the caravan started about a month or so ago. Numbers quickly grew as more and more migrants joined the journey. As the caravan reached Mexico-Guatemala border numbers of migrants reached up to an estimated of number of 4000.
Many participants have been traveling for hundreds of miles in the hot weather. People have been walking nonstop for many days with very little food or water. Along the way they have been sleeping in the streets in sleeping bags or makeshift camps. Although local people have been helping the migrants along the way providing them with resources.
As the migrants neared the southern border in Mexico, the government deployed about 700 National Police officers in efforts to stop people entering illegally. In doing so riots and protest has started in the border. Mexico’s government threated the migrants if apprehended they would be deported and sent back to home countries. Those seeking asylum would need to apply but would have to wait in detentions centers for up to 45 days.
Although it’s still hundreds of miles of traveling to the united started form the southern Mexico border Trump has already released multiple statements in reply to the migrant caravan. Trump has sent out multiple tweets and threated to cut off foreign aid to these countries. He has called the migrant caravan a national emergency emphasizing the dangers of the migrants arriving to the US- Mexico border. Trump has even called for the partial shutdown of the asylum process in order to halt the migrant caravan. Many people are outraged by this and have called it inhumane.
Numbers the past few days as the caravan continues through Mexico has reached up to 7,000 migrants. Lot’s locals and outsiders have been helping the migrants in their journey to the Unites States. The migrants are leaving the horrible living conditions which including corrupt government, gang violence and poverty, all in hope to pursue a better life.