Migrant caravan heads to US border ahead of election
Approximately 3,000 migrants are making their way to the US southern border on foot, aiming to reach the country before the November election, anticipating a potential victory for Donald Trump.
Racing against potential border policies
The caravan, consisting of individuals from a dozen Latin American nations, departed from Mexico’s southern border. Their goal is to seek asylum in the US before Trump, if elected, potentially enacts stricter border controls.
“We are running the risk that permits [to cross the border] might be blocked,” said Miguel Salazar, a migrant from El Salvador. Salazar expressed concern that a Trump administration could prevent asylum-seekers from booking appointments through the CBP One app, which allows migrants to schedule appointments at border posts to plead their case for asylum once they reach Mexico City or other northern Mexican states.
“Everyone wants to use that route,” Salazar, 37, explained.
Fears and frustrations among migrants
Oswaldo Reyna, a 55-year-old migrant from Cuba, voiced his frustration with Trump’s rhetoric, particularly the former president’s claim that migrants are attempting to “invade” the US. “We are not delinquents,” Reyna said. “We are hard-working people who have left our country to get ahead in life, because in our homeland we are suffering from many needs.”
Political implications
Trump and his vice-presidential pick, Ohio Senator JD Vance, have both pledged to tighten border controls if they win the upcoming election. The political landscape remains uncertain, especially after President Biden announced he would not seek reelection, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to run for the Oval Office. Harris must still secure the nomination from her party members.
Ongoing criticism of current border policies
The Biden administration, including Harris, has faced significant criticism for what many perceive as weak border policies, resulting in a record number of migrants entering the US. The 3,000-person caravan set out from Ciudad Hidalgo, a Mexican town bordering Guatemala, where many had been waiting for weeks in hopes of obtaining permits to travel further north.
The caravan’s journey underscores the ongoing challenges and political stakes surrounding immigration and border policies in the United States.