The Migrant Caravan

Slowly but surely, migrants from Central America are trudging towards the U.S in a caravan that was formed along the way. Many of the 6,000 Honduran migrants are seeking asylum from dangerous gangs and a chance for opportunity in the U.S. Traveling in a caravan provides more safety rather than being in small groups especially many being women with children. It is no mystery why many have started to migrate, with Honduras being ranked one of the most violent countries in the world, having at least two-thirds of the country living in poverty, and going through a drought.

The caravan has been of American concern since early October of this year. Though the caravan is miles away, President Trump has taken rather unnecessary precautions by sending troops to the border. “I think it useless, what’s the point of sending troops when Hispanics are the backbone of this country and even building his buildings,” Says Lafayette Junior, Stephanie Perez.

“I don’t think they should come to the United States,” LHS Junior Sean Long opines.

In an early effort to stop the caravan the president threatened to take U.S funding from Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. It is also been stated that Trump will house asylum seeking migrants in “tent cities”.

The caravan is currently located in Mexico City making its way to the U.S-Mexico border. The journey has not been easy for many, majority plan to stay in Mexico since entry into the U.S is not guaranteed. Even when traveling in big groups, safety is not guaranteed. Due to huge media coverage, everyone has taken notice of the caravan. It has been reported that some part of the caravan have gone missing due to encounters with human traffickers along the way. This is one of the many dangers migrants face making it one of the main reasons why the caravan formed.

Those in the U.S are anxious of the caravan’s arrival, some with open arms and others with fear. People fearing the caravan may have been triggered by the negative words the president uses to describe the group of apparent terrorists, criminals, and unknown Middle Easterners.  The Department of Homeland Security also went on support these claims without offering any evidence causing even more people to lean to the idea that the caravan is a danger to them.

As of November 13 of 2018, the first of the Central Americans had reached the US- Mexico border. The migrants at the border are reported to be an estimated 350 people that left the caravan due to its slow pace. Majority of the caravan remains Tijuana. Some have decided to take refuge in Mexico as the Mexican government has issued 2,700 temporary visas for the waiting process for permanent status. The rest continue their journey to the U.S desperately anticipating asylum.

With the caravan right a our back door, the events to occur might be drastic.

BREAKING: As of publication,  3,000 migrants has arrived in Tijuana, Mexico and at the US border, and it doesn’t seem like the migrants are getting a warm welcome from anyone, as many Mexican citizens took to the streets of Tijuana on Sunday, November 18  to protest the entry of the caravan. The US is processing about 100 asylum claims a day as over 3,000 migrants wait at the border.  Meanwhile ACLU’s lawsuit against the Trump Administration was given the green light to continue. The lawsuit states that the practices that the president is taking against asylum seeking families is unconstitutional. It has been reported that on Sunday, November 26 a group of migrants attempted to storm the US border and were greeted with large amounts of tear gas from border officers. Those that entered illegally are said to have been deported. The event has left both migrants and US citizens on edge.