Mexico City receives first wave from migrant caravan

[MenInG]

The first migrants from a large convoy of people travelling through Mexico towards the United States have arrived in the capital, Mexico City.

About 450 people, mostly men and boys, have been given temporary shelter at a sports stadium.

The convoy, known as a caravan, set off from Honduras several weeks ago and is now about 5,000 strong.

US President Donald Trump says troops will be deployed to stop them crossing the US-Mexican border.

Critics have accused Mr Trump of using the threat of illegal immigration to fire up his supporters ahead of Tuesday's mid-term elections.

The migrants says they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

Many of those arriving in the Jesus Martinez Palillo stadium on Sunday had walked or hitched rides from the state of Veracruz.

"From what I brought from Honduras I have nothing. Even yesterday I walked barefoot," Kenia Alvarado, 21, told El Universal newspaper after arriving at the stadium.

Veracruz Governor Miguel Angel Yunes said on Friday that buses would be provided to take migrants to the capital - but the offer was later withdrawn.

"Our heads are set at getting to the United States, to fulfil the American dream," said Mauricio Mancilla, who had travelled from northern Honduras with his six-year-old son. "We have faith in God that we will do this, whatever the circumstances."

Authorities in Mexico City say they have prepared food and shelter as well as medical services and legal advisers for the thousands who are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

Tanks capable of holding 10,000 litres (2,200 gallons) of drinking water have been installed in the stadium, La Jornada reported.

"There are pregnant women, many children, vulnerable people and we have to guarantee the space and the services they require," said city leader José Ramón Amieva Gálvez.

Residents of Mexico City have also donated clothes and shoes for the travellers, local media reported.

President Trump has said he will use the military to completely close the US-Mexico border if necessary to stop the migrants crossing. He also threatened to cut aid to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

Nevertheless, many in the caravan say they plan to seek asylum in the US.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-46092995

 

[MenInG]

A US federal judge has blocked an order issued by President Trump to deny asylum to migrants crossing the southern US border illegally.

US District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco issued the temporary restraining order after hearing arguments by civil rights groups.

Mr Trump signed the order earlier this month in response to the migrant caravan moving towards the border.

He cited national interest concerns but was opposed by civil rights groups.

Migrant caravan: What is it and why does it matter?
A river of people: The migrant caravan in pictures
Thousands of migrants from across Central America have been travelling north for weeks towards the US-Mexico border.

They say they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

In the run-up to the US mid-term elections, President Trump said many of the migrants were criminals, called the caravan an invasion, and ordered troops to the border. He also repeatedly suggested it was politically motivated

What did the judge say?
Judge Tigar, in his ruling, said current legislation made it clear that any foreigner arriving in the US "whether or not at a designated port of arrival" could apply for asylum.

He said Mr Trump's proclamation on 9 November was an "extreme departure" from prior practice.

"Whatever the scope of the president's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," Judge Tigar added.

He was responding in a case brought by The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

They argued that Mr Trump's ruling was illegal.

The judge's restraining order comes into immediate effect and remains in place until a court hearing in December to decide on the case.

Why did Trump issue the order?
President Trump's proclamation on 9 November said anyone who wanted to claim asylum in the US had to come in through official points of entry - and their cases would not be heard if they entered illegally.

The ban was to last 90 days or until the US reached an agreement with Mexico to turn back asylum-seekers.

Under US law, there is a legal obligation to hear asylum claims from migrants if they say they fear violence in their home countries - regardless of how they have entered the country.

But the Trump administration invoked the same executive power he used to justify his travel ban on people from several Muslim-majority nations last year.

It said the president had the power to "suspend the entry of all aliens" and to impose "any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate on them" if they were judged to be "detrimental" to US interests under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

A statement at the time said: "We are using the authority granted to us by Congress to bar aliens who violate a presidential suspension of entry or other restriction from asylum eligibility."

There has been no response yet to the San Francisco ruling.

And on the US-Mexico border itself?
The US website Politico reports that the 5,800 troops sent to bolster defences on the Mexico-US border will be home for Christmas. It quotes Army Lt Gen Jeffrey Buchanan as saying they have an "end date" of 15 December.

The decision to send troops came at the height of President Trump's dire warnings about the caravan during campaigning for the mid-term elections - and he was accused of deploying active troops for political purposes.

About 3,000 members of the caravan have so far arrived in Tijuana, the Mexican city bordering the US. The city's authorities expect numbers to reach 10,000 in coming weeks.

The US temporarily closed the San Ysidro border point, its busiest crossing with Mexico, on Monday to install new movable wire-topped barriers.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46272666

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

"Our heads are set at getting to the United States, to fulfil the American dream," said Mauricio Mancilla, who had travelled from northern Honduras with his six-year-old son. "We have faith in God that we will do this, whatever the circumstances."

The US should annex all these surrounding areas and incorporate them into the the great United States of America. That way Mexicans and Hondurans can live the American dream right on their own doorstep.

 

[Gilly]

Protesters in Tijuana, Mexico, want migrant caravan to leave

TIJUANA, Mexico — Tensions rose Sunday as hundreds of residents protested the arrival of thousands of Central American migrants who are expected to linger in this border city for months as they try to claim asylum in the United States.

A group opposed to the “chaos” of the so-called migrant caravans protested outside the largest makeshift shelter as Mexican police in riot gear formed a perimeter. The demonstrators sang the Mexican national anthem and waved flags as they urged the migrants to go home.

The protesters said they had no problem with legal immigration, but they were strongly opposed to what they called an "illegal invasion."

Some protesters said the Mexican government should follow President Donald Trump’s lead and adopt tougher border policies.

“He’s defending his border, unlike our president,” said protester Elvia Vijeras. “Now there will be more violence in Tijuana.”

On Friday, Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum called the influx of migrants an “avalanche” that could wind up staying in the city for at least six months.

On Sunday, President Trump tweeted about Gastelum saying the city was “ill-prepared” for the migrants.

“Likewise, the U.S. is ill-prepared for this invasion, and will not stand for it,” Trump tweeted. “They are causing crime and big problems in Mexico. Go home!”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/protesters-tijuana-mexico-want-migrant-caravan-leave-n937761

 

[Slog]

It really is a whole shitshow right there.

Just because people hate trump, they are somehow making it seem like vetting a caravan of illegal immigrants is somehow a bad thing

 

[slipcatch]

It really is a whole shitshow right there.

Just because people hate trump, they are somehow making it seem like vetting a caravan of illegal immigrants is somehow a bad thing

Process has always been same.

The difference is, Trump made it political to gain support.

And, Democrats are returning the favor.

 

[Abdullah719]

Migrant caravan: US fires tear gas at Mexico border

US border guards have used tear gas against a group of migrants attempting to storm the US border with Mexico.

Video footage shows dozens of people running towards the fence that separates the two countries near the city of Tijuana, while photos show clouds of tear gas rising into the air.

The US has also closed the border crossing to vehicles and pedestrians.

Tensions have been high in the Mexican city since the arrival of thousands of migrants earlier this month.

The migrants - including many women and children - are in Tijuana after travelling more than 4,000km (2,500 miles) from Central America.

They say they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

However, they now face a long wait to see if their asylum applications will be accepted by the US, with President Donald Trump vowing to keep each migrant on the Mexican side of the border until courts have decided their case. This could take months.

Amid growing desperation on Sunday, a group of about 500 migrants - who had been taking part in a peaceful protest demanding to be allowed to cross - made a run for the border.

According to news agency AFP, a number managed to climb over a first fence. It was as they tried to cross a second, spike-topped wall that officials on the US side began throwing tear gas.

An AFP journalist saw the migrants - including mothers and children - trying to protect themselves from the gas, with some crying out that they only wanted to find a work and a better life in the US.

AP journalist Chris Sherman said he had seen parents running away with choking toddlers.

Honduran migrant Ana Zuniga, 23, tried to cross with her three-year-old. She told AP: "We ran but when you run the smoke smothers you more."

Mr Trump threatened to close the entire US-Mexico border earlier this week if it was felt the US was going to "lose control" of the situation.

He also said he had given troops at the border the go-ahead to use lethal force if needed.

Mr Trump has deployed about 5,800 troops to the border. He previously described the migrants as an "invasion".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46339085

 

[ElRaja]

The US should annex all these surrounding areas and incorporate them into the the great United States of America. That way Mexicans and Hondurans can live the American dream right on their own doorstep.

the already took a huge chunk of mexico in the mid 1800s, and could have taken all of it if they wanted. i know you are being slightly tongue in cheek, but a slightly more expansionist usa could easily have conquered all of north america south of its border.