Mexican authorities move Central American migrants to new shelter
819 views · Published 6 December 2018 · 2:13 · Indexed 14 November 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(1 Dec 2018) Mexican authorities began moving Central American migrants out of an overcrowded shelter near the U.S. border on Saturday, and taking them to a former concert venue much farther away in Tijuana, and warned that services will be cut off at the first site. Hundreds of migrants boarded buses at the overcrowded sports complex within view of the border for the trip to the new shelter about 10 miles (15 kilometers) from the border crossing at Otay Mesa and 14 miles (22 kilometers) from San Ysidro, where asylum claimants line up. Still, hundreds of migrants who have been staying at the sports complex were milling around at midafternoon, apparently unwilling to relocate to the new shelter much farther from the border. Marvin Suarez, a 28-year-old Honduran migrant, said that he did not want to move to the new shelter, and was considering returning home. The new shelter is a large building and concrete patio known as El Barretal that has been used for concerts and other events up until about six years ago. But city officials planned to stop offering food and medical services at the Benito Juarez sports complex next to the border Friday, and any migrants who stay will have to find their own food. Experts had expressed concerns about unsanitary conditions at the sports complex, where more than 6,000 migrants have been packed into a space adequate for half that many people. Mud, lice infestations and respiratory infections were rampant. The complex was covered with mud from storms storms. Some migrants had found work near the sports complex and were unsure about moving to a place they did not know, though it meant they would have a roof over their heads. Esmeralda Molina, a 34-year-old Honduran migrant traveling with her son boarded the bus to the new shelter and said she was dispirited by the fact that she had not received a response from USauthorities about her asylum claim. Authorities and residents in Tijuana are concerned the migrants might try to make another mass rush across the border. Their first attempt last weekend led to a brief closure of border crossings that Tijuana residents use to reach jobs and shopping on the US side. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5f2cda2682f65b5b4f4c08ed321c387e
