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Mexico arrests hundreds of migrants who tried to cross the border by wading the Suchiate River

2020-01-20T23:16:00.936Z


The National Guard thwarted the attempt of those who tried to enter irregularly across the river on foot. About 1,000 people were arrested.


After the Mexican government closed the doors to more than 4,000 Central American migrants marching to the United States in a caravan, a large group began crossing the Suchiate River on Monday (border between Guatemala and Mexico) to enter the territory and follow its Road to the northern border.

In response, Mexican authorities warned that they would arrest and deport migrants who crossed without authorization.

"Federal Migration Agents will transfer any foreign person who does not prove a condition of regular stay to immigration stations and stays," the National Immigration Institute said in a statement.

Videos obtained by Telemundo News reveal arrests of migrants who jumped the fence placed by the National Guard. About 1,000 people would have been arrested. However, the authorities have not issued any official statement in this regard.

Before embarking to cross the river (which due to the low level of its channel can be crossed on foot), the migrants had given an ultimatum to the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, demanding a safe-conduct to enter.

But the Mexican authorities have rejected his formal request and instead have only allowed the passage through the Rodolfo Robles bridge to droppers (about ten people at a time).

More images and videos show dozens of men, women and children advancing through the water in front of the vigilance of members of the National Guard, who wait for the Mexican side and seek to stop the migratory flow. Some are already managing to cross, without the authorities being able to completely contain the flow.

Before taking the river, migrants received a statement from the National Institute of Migration (INM) ensuring that "it is not possible to give positively" the request of entry of all migrants . In the letter, the INM said it would "allow" the entry of those who meet the requirements established by law, although the conditions were not clarified, only that they would first attend minors and women with children.

"To the river, we go to the river," the migrants responded.

Local media say that there was an exchange of stones between elements of the National Guard and members of the caravan. At least one person would have been injured and taken to a hospital.

https://twitter.com/Pajaropolitico/status/1219331273052839937

Migrants, who request a humanitarian transit visa, were restricted border crossings over the weekend, after Saturday the National Guard launched tear gas to a group that tried to enter "national territory in a disorderly manner," according to Mexican immigration officials.

The authorities say that the restricted flow will ensure that the migration flow is "safe, orderly and regular." Until now 1,087 people would have passed through two crossing areas, through the states of Chiapas and Tabasco, according to official data.

Most of the people waiting to be able to get there come from Honduras, where the current caravan departed on Wednesday, January 15, but there are also people from El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

The National Institute of Migration of Mexico (INM) indicates that, after crossing the Central Americans, "the review of their immigration status is carried out to offer different opportunities according to their specific conditions."

Migrants cross the Suchiate River to enter Mexican territory. Photo: (Telemundo News).

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said last week that there are 4,000 border jobs available for caravan people. There are also the programs "Sowing Life", of temporary agricultural work, and "Youth Building the Future", of training and that the Mexican government offers to Central Americans in their countries of origin to reduce emigration.

Notwithstanding the job offer mentioned by López Obrador, the INM stressed that "in most cases the return will be assisted", that is, deportation, given the immigration situation.

Since mid-2019, the Mexican government mobilized armed forces of the National Guard to control the flow of migration, following a threat by President Trump to impose tariffs. The few hostels for migrants on the southern Mexican border have long been exceeded and deportations from Mexican territory have increased by more than 100% in recent months.

Read also:

How is a migrant caravan formed in Central America?

Migrants from the caravan say they don't get help like the previous groups

Source: telemundo

All news articles on 2020-01-20

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