Dozens of people expect US immigration authorities to analyze their asylum claims

Nearly 200 migrants of the more than 1000 who started in the migrant caravan managed to reach the border that divides the United States and Mexico. The caravan known as "migrant viacrucis", which has been held annually since 2010, wants to demonstrate the dramatic journey made by Central American migrants to reach the United States. This year, the initiative had major mishaps, since the US president, Donald Trump, asked the National Guard to reinforce security at the border and stop the passage of illegal migrants.

Leer en español: De los 200 migrantes que llegaron a la frontera entre EE. UU y México, solo ocho han podido cruzar

So far a total of eight people, women and children, have managed to cross the border. These migrants intend to settle in the United States under the modality of asylum. Isabel Rodriguez, 52, traveled with her two grandchildren, Anderson, 7, and Cristofer, 11, from El Salvador with the caravan for several weeks, and says the most difficult thing is not the crossing, but to convince the American officials that their situation merits asylum. "Enduring hunger and the setbacks of the weather for a month is the easiest thing, convincing the gringos is the hardest thing, I go with my grandchildren to give them a better life," says Isabel as she waits for her turn to cross the border and be interviewed

How Isabel are dozens of cases, in which they claim to be making the journey away from the violence of their countries and looking for a better future for their children and grandchildren. For US officials, explains Rodney S. Scott, chief of the Border Patrol of San Diego, California, "it is important that we demonstrate the vulnerability of individuals and their families, and the blood link is very important."

Trump's response

The president of the United States has been emphatic in clarifying that migrants with a criminal record will be deported, as well as controlling the phenomenon of illegal passage to the country. Due to the caravan and its large participation of people, Trump gave the order to the national guard to collaborate with the security of the border. Before this announcement, many of the NGOs that supported the caravan retracted their mission throughout Mexico, says Gina Garibo, project coordinator of the organization People Without Borders. "Of the large contingent that left from the southern border of Mexico, the legal counsel told them that this year, crossing the border was going to have greater complications, many of the migrants took notice and stayed in Mexico."

With Trump's response, not only was the majority of the caravan halted, but it also created a new paradigm in the face of illegal migration to the United States. For the head of the San Diego Border Patrol, Rodney S. Scott, with the president's announcements, the migratory flows have been reduced mainly due to fear of deportation, including coyotes (people who help to cross the border illegally). they have reduced their presence in the area. "

The caravan

For the promoters of the "migrant viacrucis", the caravan is the opportunity to raise awareness of a problem that exists long ago, but which is treated with indifference. 2018 generated uncertainty due to the deployment of the military by the United States. The NGOs that drive the initiative, are convinced that the United States must accept the population that is in danger and where life is the only thing that matters, says the Organization People Without Borders on its website. The humanitarian reasons drive the caravan, as it is expected that the US authorities grant asylee status to the participants.

Most of the people who are part of the caravan, are people of limited resources who seek to improve their quality of life. The caravan is an opportunity to reach the United States and the immigration authorities assist people in a more agile manner. However, a new regulation forces the border patrol to only leave a certain number of people inside the facilities while their situation is solved. Migrants have to wait in Mexico to be given the possibility of crossing the border to study their case.

Latin American Post | Carlos Gómez

Translated from "De los 200 migrantes que llegaron a la frontera entre EE. UU y México, solo ocho han podido cruzar"