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Migrants stalled at US border, some mulling stay in Mexico

Sunday, 18 November 2018 7:35 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 18 November 2018 11:02 AM ]

Members of a migrant caravan wait in line to turn in requests for political asylum at the US-Mexico border, in Tijuana, Mexico, on November 17, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Another group of Central American migrants, seeking to take refuge in the United States, has made its way to the Mexican border city of Tijuana, joining long lines of other individuals already waiting to be enlisted for potential legal entry.

Hundreds of newly-arrived migrants in Tijuana, which sits across the border from the US state of California, lined up in front of a border crossing post on Saturday to add their names to a list to be processed for potential asylum.

Some 2,800 migrants had reached the city by Friday evening, and 1,500 of them put their names on the list handled by the migrants themselves, according to the local government.

Officials are supposed to handle 150 requests per day, meaning the whole process is expected to be a lengthy one.

Migrants rest inside a temporary migrant shelter next to the US-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico, on November 17, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Since arriving at the border last week, the Central American migrants — mostly Hondurans — have been denied entry through the gates linking Mexico to the US.

The Mexican government offered job opportunities to the migrants in an attempt to dissuade them from proceeding with their journey in Mexico toward the US border, as the US government had put pressure on Mexico City to stop them.

Now facing difficulties at the border, several members of the migrant caravan have expressed willingness in an interview with Reuters to stay put in Mexico rather than proceed and face rejection across the border.

“We had the idea to cross to the United States, but they told us it will be nearly impossible,” said 32-year-old Mayra Gonzalez, traveling with her two children. “We cannot starve as we wait to find out if they’ll give us asylum. Better to work, by the grace of God, here in Mexico.”

A US Coast Guard helicopter flies near the US-Mexico border fence in San Diego, as seen from Tijuana, Mexico, on November 17, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Caravans of Central American migrants — many fleeing violence, corruption, and unemployment in their homeland — started a march toward the US in early October.

US President Donald Trump has called the Central American migrants a security threat, ordering the deployment of thousands of troops to the Mexican border to contain them.

More than 7,000 active-duty troops have been deployed to the US states of Texas, Arizona, and California. Border areas have also been secured with razor wire.

Last Friday, the Trump administration signed an order barring migrants who cross the US border with Mexico illegally from claiming asylum in the US. US government officials said the order would be in effect for at least three months as of November 10 and would not affect people who are already in the country.

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