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Migrant caravans, which Trump criticizes, typically do not come close to the U.S. border. These groups of migrants often come together in southern Mexico to protect themselves from criminal organizations, but they rarely reach the U.S.-Mexico border.
Authored by James
President-elect Donald J. Trump promised to implement a 25 percent tariff on all products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico. He stated that these tariffs would remain in effect until measures were taken to prevent the illegal movement of drugs and people across the borders.
Mr. Trump specifically discussed a group of migrants traveling from southern Mexico to the United States. This is just one of many instances where Mr. Trump uses groups of migrants to support his arguments about border security, even though they rarely reach their intended destination.
Large groups of migrants frequently gather in southern Mexico close to its border with Guatemala, which is over 1,000 miles away from the United States. The primary motivation for this is the increased sense of security and strength that comes from being in a large group.
As migrants wait in the city of Tapachula in southern Mexico for humanitarian visas that allow them to travel through the country, they come together and form groups while getting ready to journey north.
Traveling through Mexico can be very dangerous, especially for migrants with limited resources, as they are at risk of being kidnapped, extorted, or facing violence from criminal organizations or corrupt authorities in Mexico. Traveling in caravans can help reduce these risks and offer a more affordable alternative to paying a smuggler to help them cross the U.S. border.
A lot of individuals, often coming from different parts of the Americas as well as Asia and Africa, come to southern Mexico after making a long journey through jungles and crossing multiple borders before reaching Mexico.
However, the sizable groups of travelers often gather in caravans that are frequently disbanded by Mexican officials before reaching the United States. This could be due to some members dropping out during the challenging journey or because negotiations between the authorities and the migrants result in the group dispersing once temporary travel permits are offered.
The Mexican government has attempted various strategies to discourage migrants from traveling north through Mexico, including transporting them by bus away from the border with the United States and towards the southern part of the country.
A new caravan consisting of around 1,500 individuals, primarily from Central and South America, was reported to have formed in southern Mexico last week. They are aiming to reach the United States before President Trump’s inauguration in January.
James Wagner reports on news in Latin America, with a focus on sports, and works out of Mexico City. Originally from Nicaragua and raised in Washington, he is fluent in Spanish. Learn more about James Wagner.
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