President Trump Threatens to Close Southern Border as 4,000 Person Caravan Continues North
A caravan of some 4,000 immigrants is headed toward the United States from Honduras and President Trump is threatening to close the southern border if the Mexican government fails to stop them.
According to the Associated Press, the Mexican government deployed additional police to its shared border with Guatemala on Thursday after the Casa del Migrante shelter in Guatemala reported that hundreds of Hondurans had already arrived there.
AP reports that Mexican officials will not let the Hondurans enter as a group and that they will need to have official documentation to enter into Mexico from Guatemala.
If the Hondurans, who are reportedly fleeing violence and poverty in their country, do not have a passport or visa, Mexico’s ambassador to Guatemala has said that they will be deported.
Mexican officials have also said that the migrants could also have the option to apply for refugee status, but this would require a 90-day approval process.
As the caravan nears the United States, President Trump has fired off several warnings on Twitter.
The President wrote, “I am watching the Democrat Party led (because they want Open Borders and existing weak laws) assault on our country by Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, whose leaders are doing little to stop this large flow of people, INCLUDING MANY CRIMINALS, from entering Mexico to the U.S.”
I am watching the Democrat Party led (because they want Open Borders and existing weak laws) assault on our country by Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, whose leaders are doing little to stop this large flow of people, INCLUDING MANY CRIMINALS, from entering Mexico to U.S…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2018
Trump then threatened to cease aid provisions to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, given that they have let the caravan proceed through their countries to the U.S.
The President wrote, “In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught – and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!”
….In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught – and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2018
Trump then pointed fault at weak immigration laws enacted by Democrats saying, “The assault on our country at our Southern Border, including the Criminal elements and DRUGS pouring in, is far more important to me, as President, than Trade or the USMCA. Hopefully Mexico will stop this onslaught at their Northern Border. All Democrats fault for weak laws!”
….The assault on our country at our Southern Border, including the Criminal elements and DRUGS pouring in, is far more important to me, as President, than Trade or the USMCA. Hopefully Mexico will stop this onslaught at their Northern Border. All Democrats fault for weak laws!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2018
Fox News reports that the caravan started last Friday from San Pedro Sula which is the second-largest city in Honduras. San Pedro Sula is also reportedly considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world. When the caravan began AP estimates that there were around 160 people. The caravan is now hosting an estimated 4,000 Hondurans.
Photo courtesy: Filip Gielda/Unsplash
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