Hundreds of migrants formed a convoy on Wednesday and began a journey on foot from the Mexican city of Tapachula, aimed at President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised mass deportations. Aimed to reach the US border before taking office in January.
“My mindset is to get there, I want my (asylum) appointment before he (Trump) takes office,” Colombia’s Yamel Enriquez told AFP, “If I don’t get the appointment first, I will commit myself to anything. God willing.” is.”
A group of about 1,500 people set out in the early hours of the morning on the nearly 2,600 kilometer trek.
Migrant caravans have been forming since 2018, serving as a last hope for those who cannot afford smugglers. Those traveling alone or in small groups are often detained by authorities, who either send migrants back to southern Mexico or send them back to their home countries. In contrast, large convoys provide safety in numbers, making it difficult for immigration agents to detain entire groups, the AP reported.
Donald Trump, whose election was heavily influenced by concerns about illegal immigration, has vowed to declare a national emergency over border security and deploy the US military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented migrants.
With an estimated 11 million people living in the United States illegally, Trump has fueled fears by referring to immigration as an “invasion,” and claiming that immigration poses a threat of violence to Americans.
