What happens next? Huge migrant caravan finally reaches U.S. border, seeking asylum

A large group of immigrants, who have traveled over 2,000-miles from Mexico's border with Guatemala, reached the United States-Mexico border on Sunday afternoon.

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Many from the caravan fleeing violence were traveling with young children.

Highlights

By Abigail James (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
4/30/2018 (6 years ago)

Published in U.S.

Keywords: Migrant Caravan, Immigration, Immigrant, Immigrant caravan, Mexico caravan, Honduras, El Salvador, Asylum seeker, prayers

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The group consisted of over 1,000 people at the start of their journey on March 25. They traveled by foot, bus and train to flee the violence and persecution they experienced in their home countries. By the end of the trip, only around 200 people remained in the caravan, with some deciding to reside in Mexico and others dispersing elsewhere. 

Upon reaching the border, the caravan sent forward about 150 people to seek asylum in the United States. However, the U.S. border officials told them the border crossing at San Diego was already full. By the end of the day, none of the group was allowed to enter the U.S. side or had been processed by officials. 

Those remaining in the caravan, many of them traveling with small children, decided to set up camp and spend the night on Mexico's side of the border. 

President Trump has used the caravan as a point of rearguing the weakness within the United States' border walls. The group became a target of Trump's infamous tweets with him writing, "Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release. Getting more dangerous. "Caravans" coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!"

In a strong move, Trump asked the states bordering Mexico to deploy their National Guard troops to the border for further security until his wall was built. 

Before walking up to the border entrance, the caravan organizers and migrant advocates called on the entire Trump administration to "treat the people more humanely and according to the law," according to the Washington Post. 

By law, the U.S. inspectors can quickly deport any individuals without proper documentation at the time of entry or if they feel the person has committed fraud or lied about a situation. If any individual expresses fear of returning to their home country, they will be detained rather than deported until go through "a credible fear interview." 

"We've been waiting so long that it doesn't really matter whether it's today, tomorrow or when they let us in," said Irineo Mujica, director of Pueblo Sin Fronteras, a campaign group that organized the caravan, to BBC.

Many of the people from the caravan have left their homes due to fear. 

A 16-year-old girl, fleeing Honduras, found her high school friend raped by gang members. The gang told her she was next on their list. Another man, Mario Quintanillo, fled with his entire family after a gang attacked him and killed a relative. 

It's not clear what will become of those waiting for asylum at the border. The road ahead of them is equally as long and tiring as the journey behind them. Many of the migrants are prepared to wait until the U.S. lets them in, and are using this time to further gather evidence and strengthen their claims. 

"I'm going with the feeling that it's going to be worth the effort," stated Quintanillo of El Salvador. "In the name of God, everything is possible."

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