Migrant caravan crosses the Suchiate river to enter Mexico to the United States, before AMLO government refusal

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 (border between Guatemala and Mexico) to enter the territory and continue on their way to The northern border

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 only allowed the passage through the Rodolfo Robles bridge to droppers (about ten people at a time).

For its part, the National Institute of Migration said in a communiqué that "it is not possible to give positively" the petition for the entry of migrants , but that they invite "unaccompanied and accompanied children", as well as persons "in vulnerable condition "to provide them with" human dignity. "

Migrants request a humanitarian transit visa, but the crossings were restricted 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 immigration officials from Mexico.

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."

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.

Mexican authorities guard the passage from Guatemala to the caravan. Credit: Raúl Torres

The crossing through Chiapas, via the Suchiate River, is the busiest so far by the new caravan. People gathered there told Telemundo News correspondent Raúl Torres that they consider trying to pass through a dry riverbed if they are not allowed to enter Mexico through the official checkpoints.

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.