Central American migrants in Mexico determined to got to US border
1,037 views · Published 14 November 2018 · 2:57 · Indexed 2 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(8 Nov 2018) Central American migrants in a caravan that has stopped in Mexico City were determined on Thursday to go to the US border, and have asked for buses to transport them, saying it is too cold and dangerous to continue walking and hitchhiking. Mexico City authorities say that of the 4,841 registered migrants receiving shelter in a sports complex, 1,726 are under the age of 18, including 310 children under five. The Mexican government has said most of the migrants have refused offers to stay in Mexico, and only a small number have agreed to return to their home countries. About 85 percent of the migrants are from Honduras, while others are from the Central American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Migrants said that they were determined to go to the US, in the hope of securing a better life for themselves and their children. Mexico City is more than 600 miles from the nearest US border crossing at McAllen, Texas, and a previous caravan in the spring opted for a much longer route to Tijuana in the far northwest, across from San Diego. The government said 2,697 temporary visas had been issued to individuals and families to cover them while they wait for the 45-day application process for a more permanent status. During the recent US midterm elections, US President Donald Trump had converted the migrants into a campaign issue, portraying them as a major threat. Nashieli Ramirez, president of Mexico City's Human Rights Commission said that the Mexican government has a duty to assist the migrants. In the stadium, hundreds of Mexico City employees and even more volunteers helped sort donations and direct migrants toward food, water, diapers and other basics. Migrants searched through piles of donated clothes and grabbed boxes of milk for children. 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/613cc9023ae89003b27119a438d97afd
