Migrant caravan passing through Mexico without resistance
William La Jeunesse reports from Tapachula, Mexico, where resting migrants are preparing to start their day.
President Trump tweeted Monday the United States will begin cutting off foreign aid to countries that have failed to stop a growing group of thousands of migrants marching its way through Mexico and to the U.S. border.
Trump blamed Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador for not being “able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S.” Though there were no official numbers, estimates place the lead caravan as having about 7,000 people. A second caravan of about 1,000 people has also left Honduras and is working its way toward linking up with the main group.
“We will now begin cutting off, or subsequently reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given them,” Trump tweeted.
The three countries received about $500 million in funding from the U.S. in 2017.
Trump also tweeted he alerted the military and federal border authorities that the migrant caravan, which originated in Honduras, is now a national emergency.
"Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States," Trump wrote. "Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National [emergency]. Must change laws!"
Monday's comments were only the latest in a series from Trump, who's been closely watching the progress of the ever-swelling group of migrants. Trump tweeted Thursday morning he would "close our southern border" if the caravan threatened to breach it, and on Sunday the Trump administration again said it was still “following” the movements of the group, made up mostly of Central Americans, that had pushed its way deep into Mexico.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused the migrants of violating the sovereignty and laws of Guatemala and Mexico by “attempting to transit these countries.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen also weighed in Sunday, saying the agency is focused on rooting out potential criminal gang members who have tried to embed with the caravan.
"While we closely monitor the caravan crisis, we must remain mindful of the transnational criminal organizations and other criminals that prey on the vulnerabilities of those undertaking the irregular migration journey," Nielsen said in a statement.
The Associated Press reported Monday the size of the caravan has grown from about 200 people when it was first formed, to 4,000 when it entered Mexico and 7,000 as it pickup up steam through that country. The group was on the move again Monday morning, departing the southern Mexico city of Tapachula. As it moved through Mexico, more people hopeful of entering the U.S. joined -- including many people who've been previously deported from America.
“They catch you, and you try to get back,” said Imner Anthony Fuentes, a 29-year-old who reportedly was deported for the sixth time from the U.S. five months ago. He has a son and a U.S. citizen girlfriend living in Birmingham, Ala., according to the Washington Post.
Another of the lead caravan's members who had previously live in the U.S., 36-year-old Job Reyes told the Washington Post he's going back because America is “a country where I can live my life, unlike Guatemala.”
Reyes said he grew up in Los Angeles and returned to Guatemala 14 years ago after his visa expired. But now, with the caravan hoping to get across the U.S. border, Reyes saw an opportunity.
“When I heard about the caravan, I knew it was my chance,” he told the newspaper, noting his cousin and uncle still live in California and that he called them to let him know he was coming.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.