Group of Thousands Journey North Towards U.S. Border
A mammoth migrant caravan, consisting of approximately 5,000 individuals, makes its way towards the United States, causing controversy in Mexico.
With holiday spirit sparking in festive cities, hundreds of migrants saw the opportunity to set off on a treacherous journey to achieve the American Dream. On Christmas Eve, the city of Tapachula in southern Mexico's Chiapas region marked the start of a mass exodus from 24 diverse nations. Thousands gathered for a prayer, then set forth on foot with a white cross as their banner, marching towards the U.S. under the humble banner of “Exodus of the Poor.”
Luis García Villagrán, an organizer and activist, reported details of the migrant caravan. The demographic predominantly hails from countries like Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. However, the caravan's ethnics span far and wide, encompassing African nations and even China. Led by a participant carrying the white cross, the caravan’s symbol – the Exodus of the Poor – is their unified message for the Mexican immigration authority, INM, which they accuse of inactivity in processing their applications.
Crossing the U.S.- Mexico border: challenges and controversy
Mexico has long served as a primary route for those seeking refuge in the United States, especially those fleeing poverty, violence, or political crises in their homelands. In recent years, groups and caravans of migrants have formed to protect themselves from high risks. By banding together, they hope to safeguard themselves against the dangerous circumstances awaiting migration.
The city of Tapachula sits just on the brink of Guatemala, a frequent starting point for migrants. Each year, hundreds of thousands trek toward the United States through Mexico, mostly hailing from South America. U.S. border police reported approximately 10,000 border crossings per day.
As the dilemma of irregular migration escalates, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall are scheduled to meet with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico City. This upcoming summit is set to address matters related to the influx of refugees seeking safe haven.
Controversy beneath the festive veil
As the migrant caravan comes into view, Mexican authorities and controversial policies pose a challenge to the U.S. border crossing aspirations of the migrants.
Despite the swelling tide of migrants, the journey ahead is far from smooth. Reports of U.S. President Donald Trump's deployment of strict immigration policies have put a damper on the migrants' march. At least 2,000 migrants, including families and individuals, set off for the U.S. on Donald Trump's inauguration day. However, as U.S. border policies tightened and Mexican enforcement increased, the vast caravan is deemed highly unlikely to reach the American border intact.
As a potential solution, former CBP Chief Dr. Victor M. Manjarrez suggests that the migrants may be broken into semblances of smaller groups, making it difficult for authorities to identify them as a single caravan[1]. In fact, Mexican authorities succeeded in dismantling more than six migrant caravans within recent months[1].
Controversial tactics and diplomatic efforts
Overseeing a stringent immigration policy, the Trump administration has implemented measures to prohibit unauthorized immigration. Decrees like declaring illegal immigration a national emergency, enacting broad asylum bans, and restricting citizenship for U.S.-born children are just a few examples[2]. Additionally, the administration resuscitated the "Remain in Mexico" program, requiring certain migrants to remain within Mexico while awaiting their U.S. hearings dates[3].
In 2019, there were reports of Venezuelan citizens and other non-Mexican residents being sent back to Mexico, where they could potentially face deportation to their homelands[3]. In this regard, there has been an increase in deportation flights, including one to India, as well as the transfer of Venezuelan migrants to Mexico City[3].
Investigations revealed that diplomats from both the United States and Mexico formed a working group to discuss migration-related matters regularly. This ongoing dialogue represents a commendable effort to address the migrant issue on the diplomatic front.
In a move to deter further inflation of migration, the Mexican government dispatched 10,000 National Guard personnel to the U.S. border zone. In response to President Trump's looming tariff threats[4], the action aimed to reassure the U.S. that Mexico was taking charge of its borders.
In conclusion, the migrant caravan faces numerous challenges as it treks Northward toward the United States border. U.S. and Mexican immigration policies force them to contend with highly restrictive measures, further adding to their plight. As diplomatic efforts continue to support the resolution of this complex issue, the caravan presses on.
References
- The Associated Press. Unnamed, n.d. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/thousands-migrants-en-route-us-border-mexico-caught-tug-war-ngc881696
- Trump administration declares illegal immigration a national emergencynewsy.com*, Newsy.com. 2019. https://www.newsy.com/stories/trump-announces-national-emergency-over-border-wall/
- Trump Administration Restarts 'Remain in Mexico' Program for Asylum Seekers. The New York Times. 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/26/us/migrants-mexico-asylum.html
- Here are the 2019 border agreements Trump and Mexico made after the tariff threat. Vox. 2019. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/7/10/20686021/mexico-border-aid-tariffs-pact
Enrichment
After setting off from Tapachula, the migrant caravan faced challenges from U.S. border policies and Mexican enforcement efforts. The caravan disbanded on Donald Trump's inauguration day, with at least 2,000 migrants continuing their journey to the United States[1]. Mexican authorities successfully dismantled six migrant caravans over the span of November and December[1]. U.S. border authorities report approximately 10,000 border crossings per day[2].
Trump's administration enacted stringent immigrant policing measures, including declaring illegal immigration a national emergency[2], imposing a broad ban on asylum, and restricting citizenship for children born in the U.S.[2]. The administration moved to resurrect the "Remain in Mexico" program, which required some migrants to wait within Mexico for their U.S. hearings[3].
Mexican authorities deployed 10,000 National Guard personnel to the U.S. border zone in response to Trump's tariff threats[4]. The Mexican government cracked down on large migrant groups, disbanding six caravans entirely[1].
