The US military will send more than 5,000 troops to secure the border as a caravan of migrants makes its way through Mexico. The number of troops being deployed is far higher than initially forecast.
General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the head of US Northern Command, said 800 US troops were already on the way to the Texas border and that the remainder of the troops would be at the southwest border by the end of the week. He said troops would focus first on Texas, followed by Arizona and then California.
"That is just the start of this operation. We will continue to adjust the number and inform you of those," O'Shaughnessy told reporters.
The announcement comes amid accusations that US President Donald Trump was trying to focus on the Central American migrant caravan for political advantage ahead of the midterm elections on November 6.
Earlier in the day, Trump labelled the caravan's effort an "invasion" and declared that the migrants would find the US military waiting for them.
More troops than initially forecast
A caravan of Central American migrants, estimated to number between 3,500 and 7,000, who left their countries in mid-October are now in southern Mexico. Most are from Honduras, seeking to escape poverty, violence and government corruption afflicting their nation.
Both Honduras and El Salvador have been plagued by rampant violence, while a lack of jobs has driven many Guatemalans to flee their country.
There are already 2,100 National Guard troops at the border, sent after a previous Trump request in April.
The figure of 5,200 troops is far higher than the 800 to 1,000 initially forecast and more than double the 2,000 who are in Syria fighting the "Islamic State" militant group.
The troops are expected to perform a wide variety of functions such as building tents and barricades and transporting supplies for the Border Patrol, and not be involved in policing the border, officials said.
The US military is prohibited from carrying out civilian law enforcement on US soil unless specifically authorized by Congress. The president is authorized under some specific statutes to deploy soldiers for riot control or relief efforts after natural disasters.
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.
