Thousands of migrants storm border to enter Mexico
October 20, 2018
Thousands of migrants have attempted to break through the Guatemala-Mexico border. US President Donald Trump has demanded that Mexico halt the caravans of migrants before they reach the US border.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O. De Ros
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Central American migrants storm Mexico's southern border
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Thousands of Central American migrants, mostly from Honduras, attempted to force their way through the Guatemalan border with Mexico on Friday, only to be pushed back by Mexican riot police.
Multiple migrants and police officers were injured as crowds hurled rocks at the security cordon imposed along the Mexican side of the border.
People were seen passing their babies overhead through the crowd, while other women held their crying children to their chests as they pushed through the broken metal barriers and onto the border bridge connecting the two countries.
Perilous trip to reach dream destination US
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At the very front of the migrant caravan, some managed to break through the final barrier fence into Mexico before being forced back by police. Some said they had been teargassed during the fracas.
"We ask you to please name a committee to hold a dialogue with officials from the National Migration Institute. Don't continue putting women's and children's lives at risk," a Mexican official pleaded with the crowd through a bullhorn.
Later, Mexican authorities initially allowed some women and children to pass through in a trickle before permitting dozens more to enter. Some had been given 45-day visitor permits, AP reported, which would allow them to reach the US border, while AFP cited a Honduran activist saying that the group had been promised refugee permits.
After processing, the women and children allowed through were being bused to a shelter.
In recent days, various groups of migrants have been converging on the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman. Thousands are fleeing poverty and insecurity in Central America, where for years violent street gangs have brutally ruled large swathes of turf.
Emigrants from those states now make up the bulk of migrants caught trying to enter the US illegally every year.
Trump tells supporters no illegal migrants entering US 'on my watch'
Following Friday's storming of the Mexican border, US President Donald Trump told a rally in Arizona that migrant caravans working their way up through Central America would not be allowed into the country "on my watch."
"They are not coming into this country, they might as well turn back," the president said. Without offering any sort of evidence to support his claim, Trump also called many of the people criminals.
Trump also echoed threats he had made a day earlier, saying he would be willing to use military force to halt the flow of migrants and potentially shut down the southern border. The legal ramifications of such a move remain vague.
"Mexico's migration policy is for Mexico to decide," he said. "Our position, in essence, is to respect human rights and dignity and protect this group of migrants, particularly the most vulnerable: children, the elderly, pregnant women."
Videgaray's remarks came shortly after he held talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Despite its tough rhetoric, Mexico has been keen to show Trump that it is indeed working to slow the stream of migrants. Previously, caravans had already advanced deep into Mexico before authorities made efforts to process the migrants. Now, the government has turned its attention to its southern border, where it has deployed hundreds of officers and riot police.
Honduran refugees risk their lives to get to US border
Refugees from Central America are trying to draw attention to the human rights abuses they face while trying to get to the US. Sanne Derks documented their experiences in and around a shelter in Apizaco, Mexico.
Image: Getty Images/D. McNew
On the move
Most Central American migrants travel on top of cargo trains, to reduce the risk of being stopped and deported. Buses are more often stopped by migration officers. Crossing the American border is a challenge. In case they cannot afford a "coyote" — a human trafficker— many of the young men consider carrying drugs as a means to pay for the border crossing that is controlled by drug cartels.
Image: DW/S. Derks
Risking life and limb
Catching a moving train is not without danger: Alex Garcia, who used to be a farmer, lost his leg while trying to get off a moving train. He is recovering at a refugee shelter and doesn't know where to go afterwards.
Image: DW/S. Derks
Keeping a low profile
According to Miquel Angel (above) the biggest risk along the road is being kidnapped by organized criminal groups, like the Zetas. Most migrants do not carry a cellphone or a notebook, in case they are caught and extorted.
Image: DW/S. Derks
Respite from the hazardous journey
The migrants try to find shelter along the route in one of Mexico’s 52 albergues, or shelters. In Apizaco they are allowed 24 hours to rest, except when they are the victim of a crime or accident. All four men in the picture have permission to stay longer, as they were either shot or otherwise physically injured during their journey.
Image: DW/S. Derks
The waiting game
Sometimes the migrants have to wait for days for the next train. Delmin Flores (center), and his two cousins Alejandro Deras and Luis Deras sit in the sun for hours in front of the shelter. They were forced to leave their coffee-growing region in Honduras after coffee prices plummeted. At night, they risk being robbed or killed by organ trade traffickers.
Image: DW/S. Derks
Clambering to safety
Hardly any children or women take the journey by train. The risk of falling into the hands of traffickers or being violated is very high. This woman and child are accompanied by the husband, who has tried the journey more than 17 times.
Image: DW/S. Derks
A close call
Herdin Varga recounts how he was shot by a guard on the train. The bullets hit him in his arm and neck. One centimeter to the right and he would be dead. He's been given permission to recover in the shelter and is in the process of requesting a temporary permit to travel Mexico so that he can continue his trip by bus.
Image: DW/S. Derks
Praying for safe passage
The shelter was founded and funded in 2010 by the Catholic priest Ramiro Sanchez. It later turned into a civil organization, independent of the government. Before meals are served, refugees pray together. Many of the migrants are religious and believe that God will provide protection during their journey.
Image: DW/S. Derks
On the outside looking in
If they've checked out of the shelter, migrants cannot enter again to spend the night. This rule has been installed to protect the safety of the employees who fear that the migrants may have been come into contact with human traffickers. "The shelter is for humanitarian aid, not for people making business out of it," shelter employee Sergio Luna told DW.
Image: DW/S. Derks
All in vain
This group of migrants boarded the only train that passed that day, but it stopped immediately after leaving the railway station. They were forced to walk back to the shelter and try their luck next time.
