Immigrant Caravan’s Struggle Intensifies with New U.S. Border Challenges

Migrants walking in a caravan.
TABANOVCE, MACEDONIA: SEPTEMBER 29, 2015: Immigrants and refugees from Middle East and North Africa crossing Macedonian-Serbian border.

Thousands of migrants march from Southern Mexico toward the U.S. as Trump’s administration tightens border security, leaving many to wonder about their fate.

Quick Takes

  • Migrant caravan of 2,000 departed from Tapachula on Inauguration Day.
  • Trump administration tightens restrictions, deploying military forces.
  • CBP One app shutdown complicates asylum-seeking at the border.
  • Polls show a rise in American opposition to immigration, legal and illegal.

Migrants’ Journey and Challenges

Around 2,000 migrants, including families, embarked on a journey from Tapachula, Mexico, to the U.S. border. Despite President Trump’s reinforced immigration policies, the caravan persists in hopes of reaching safer and more prosperous conditions. Mexican officials try to disband these caravans, leaving migrants to regroup in smaller units, increasing the journey’s difficulty.

Trump reinstated plans for mass deportations and restricted asylum access, amplifying challenges for migrants. The shutdown of the CBP One app, which facilitated asylum interviews at border ports, further complicates the process. The assumed termination of numerous appointments was set in stone as one of Trump’s “Day 1” actions after taking office.

Public Sentiment and Policy Impacts

Polls depict a growing disapproval among Americans towards both legal and illegal immigration, with a notable faction advocating for the deportation of all illegal immigrants. Trump’s stances, reinforced by a freshly issued executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship, align with these sentiments. However, such orders face significant legal hurdles grounded in constitutional protections.

The unchanged hardships have led some migrants, like Venezuelan Olindo Colmenares, to settlement alternatives, potentially in Mexico City, while awaiting new U.S. immigration processes. These obstacles underscore a deepening crisis, as migrants generally search for a better economic footing for themselves and their children amidst a tightening regulatory atmosphere.

On the Ground: Minimal Aid, Maximum Strain

Migrant caravans encounter various struggles, including health issues, exhausting climates, and uncertainties about border closures. Despite the risks, several migrants opt to join these movements for safety, as they can’t afford smuggler fees or police bribes in Mexico. The path northward is arduous; however, caravans have known support from Chiapas residents, often offering essentials and medical aid.

This caravan is the tenth since the recognition of new leadership in the U.S., yet large groups like these represent only a fraction of the annual migration flow. As Mexican authorities strive to dissolve such assemblages, individual migrants contemplate abandoning their journey due to growing fears and pressures.

Sources:

  1. New Migrant Caravan Approaching U.S.-Mexico Border After Trump’s Inauguration – Newsweek
  2. 2,000 immigrants from Southern Mexico join caravan in hopes of entering US despite Trump’s orders | Blaze Media