Migrants from Central America openly declare that they are fleeing from poverty and violence and are going to the United States. It is worth remembering that Donald Trump, even during his election campaign, spoke out against illegal migration, and after taking up the presidency, he began to fulfill his promises.
In June of this year, under strong public pressure, he signed a decree, canceling his decision, as a result of which the US authorities were able to separate detainees of illegal immigrants from their own children. Then the cancellation of this decision affected at least about two and a half thousand minor children. Back in April, the American leader had already mentioned in his speeches about the possibility of sending the military to the Mexican border. Even then, Trump meant the formation and promotion of a “caravan” of migrants from Central America, which, according to the US president, it is better to stop before he gets there.
Over the years, every day thousands of people and tons of goods legally cross the border of the United States and Mexico. Mexico is one of the key US trading partners. On October 20, Donald Trump has already sent the first detachments of the National Guard troops to protect the border, however, it remains unclear what he now means by “closing the border”, and how, in turn, this can affect trade and the movement of people with visas. In addition, under international law, the US government cannot deport an asylum seeker until it has examined its application.
According to the authoritative agency “Associated Press”, many migrants do not have passports, they use only national identity cards (ID cards), which allow them to travel to Central America. However, a passport is required to enter Mexico.
A number of human rights defenders from the “Amnesty International” organization believe that the Mexican government should not “indulge” in Trump’s armed methods, which treat people as a “security threat”. The representatives of this global body urge not to expel migrants back to countries where their lives may be in danger.
A statement was made on October 19 by the elected leader of Mexico, who plans to issue work visas to migrants from Central America when he takes the presidency in December. According to Obrador, the Mexican government has a simple plan: anyone who wants to work in Mexico, will receive a work visa. However, future Foreign Minister of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard said that migrants should not receive a work visa, but refugee status.
According to Mexican media, on October 19, six Mexican law enforcement officers suffered while trying to contain a “caravan” of migrants from Honduras on the border of Guatemala and Mexico. About fifty people broke through the gate on the border bridge between the states, after which the guards began to use tear gas. The rest were forced to retreat. Later it was found that during the clashes on the Guatemalan-Honduras border, there are about nine victims. After this incident, on October 20, the Mexican authorities announced that they intend to open their borders to women and children from the “caravan” of refugees, which is organized in the direction of the southern Mexican border. Women and children who are allowed to cross the border will be registered with Mexican migration services, after which they will be taken to special accommodation centers.
On October 22, the Mexican government turned to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for help with a joint resolution with the authorities of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador on the arrival of a “refugee caravan” on the border of the country. Also, representatives of the Mexican authorities have applied for asylum for migrants from Central America.
How the Mexican government will be able to withstand the onslaught of the endless “caravan” of refugees from Central America will show the very near future. However, the Mexican authorities will have to “balance” in making their decisions with their main trading partner, because Donald Trump has already made it clear that he will not stand aside. In the meantime, at once two “caravans” of migrants continue to move through Guatemala towards Mexico in order to reach the border with the United States. In total, they are a few thousand people. The Mexican government continues to emphasize that it respects the right to free movement, but demands that the refugees comply with the necessary rules of migration legislation.