Tons of of migrants on Wednesday fashioned a caravan and commenced their journey on foot from the Mexican metropolis of Tapachula, aiming to succeed in the US border earlier than President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged large-scale deportations, takes workplace in January.
“My mentality is to get there, I need my (asylum) appointment earlier than he (Trump) takes energy,” Colombian Yamel Enriquez instructed AFP, including, “If I do not get the appointment earlier than, I’ll give myself over to no matter God needs.”
The group of round 1,500 individuals set out within the early morning hours, embarking on a trek of roughly 2,600 kilometers.
Migrant caravans have been forming since 2018, serving as a final hope for these unable to afford smugglers. Touring alone or in small teams usually results in detention by authorities, who both ship migrants again to southern Mexico or deport them to their residence international locations. In distinction, giant caravans present security in numbers, making it troublesome for immigration brokers to detain your complete group, AP reported.
Donald Trump, whose election was closely influenced by issues over unlawful immigration, has vowed to declare a nationwide emergency on border safety and deploy the US navy to hold out mass deportations of undocumented migrants.
With an estimated 11 million individuals dwelling in america illegally, Trump has additional fueled fears by referring to the migration as an “invasion,” claiming that migrants pose a risk of violence to People.