Posted on 04/01/2018 5:11:17 PM PDT by Kaslin
Could a recent Buzzfeed news story force America to get even tougher with Mexico due to illegal immigration? Based on President Trump's tweets today, that answer is yes.
On Friday March 30th, BuzzFeed's Adolfo Flores documented shocking photos of more than 1,000 migrants from Central America marching through the streets Mexico on their way to the United States border. While the fact that migrants come through Mexico was not unsurprising, the sheer mass of people and the blatant unwillingness of Mexico's immigration agents to even bother with the problem was truly dismaying.
From BuzzFeed:Taking a drag from her cigarette, a Mexican immigration agent looked out toward a caravan of migrants that grew larger with each step they took on the two-lane highway.
When the agent, who'd covered her uniform with an orange and white shawl, learned that the Central American migrants heading her way numbered more than 1,000, she took off for the restaurant across the street.
“I'm going to have a relaxing Coke,” she told BuzzFeed News.
For five days now hundreds of Central Americans — children, women, and men, most of them from Honduras — have boldly crossed immigration checkpoints, military bases, and police in a desperate, sometimes chaotic march toward the United States. Despite their being in Mexico without authorization, no one has made any effort to stop them.
Organized by a group of volunteers called Pueblos Sin Fronteras, or People Without Borders, the caravan is intended to help migrants safely reach the United States, bypassing not only authorities who would seek to deport them, but gangs and cartels who are known to assault vulnerable migrants.
Organizers like Rodrigo Abeja hope that the sheer size of the crowd will give immigration authorities and criminals pause before trying to stop them.
“If we all protect each other we'll get through this together,” Abeja yelled through a loudspeaker on the morning they left Tapachula, on Mexico's border with Guatemala, for the nearly monthlong trek.
When they get to the US, they hope American authorities will grant them asylum or, for some, be absent when they attempt to cross the border illegally. More likely is that it will set up an enormous challenge to the Trump administration's immigration policies and its ability to deal with an organized group of migrants numbering in the hundreds.
The number of people who showed up to travel with the caravan caught organizers by surprise, and has overwhelmed the various towns they've stopped in to spend the night. Pueblos Sin Fronteras counted about 1,200 people on the first day.
About 80% of them are from Honduras. Many said they are fleeing poverty, but also political unrest and violence that followed the swearing in of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández after a highly contested election last year. The group often breaks into chants of “out with JOH.” They also chant “we aren't immigrants, we're international workers” and “the people united will never be defeated.”
Apparently, this type of commute is the preferred method of illegal aliens because it guarantees safety in numbers.
Before setting out on the journey, the migrants were organized into groups of 10 to 15 people, and a leader was designated for each group. Five groups were then banded together in what organizers call a sector. While there are organizers from Pueblos Sin Fronteras leading the way, much of the effort to get to the US border is in the hands of the migrants themselves.They've been organized into security, food, and logistics committees. Organizers say it's meant to help the migrants empower themselves.
Sandra Perez, 40, who's also from Honduras, is one of two women who belong to the security committee. It's not her first caravan: She has traveled with a procession of Central American mothers through Mexico in search of disappeared migrants.
“I like doing this, it makes me happy and I feel useful,” she told BuzzFeed News.
Not everyone is planning on crossing into the United States undetected. Migrants like Yonis, an Honduran man who declined to use his full name, are hoping to get their families to other parts of Mexico. He was able to legalize his status in Mexico and is hoping to get his wife and seven month old baby to the Mexican state Nuevo León.
"I have my life there," Yonis told BuzzFeed News. "We're all here fighting together, going to different borders, chasing an American dream that sometimes becomes a reality or doesn't for some."
Organizers estimate that about two-thirds of people are planing on crossing into the United States undetected or asking for some type of protection like asylum.
Twenty-nine-year-old Mateo Juan said the caravan was his third attempt at getting to the United States. Seven months ago, Mexican immigration officers pulled him off the bus. The same happened about a month ago.
He heard about the caravan in March when he arrived in Tapachula, the caravan's starting point.
“Going alone is risky. You're risking an accident, getting jumped by robbers, and even your life,” he told BuzzFeed News. “All of that, and then you don't get to the United States. The caravan is slower but you know you're going to get there safely.”
This led President Trump to tweet on Easter Sunday that America will finally have to deal with Mexico's "cash cow" - the North American Free Trade Agreement - if their government does not help prevent illegal immigration in to the United States.
It should be noted that President Trump has made similar comments in the past.
From CNN:"They can pay for it indirectly through NAFTA," Trump said Thursday in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. "We make a good deal on NAFTA, and, say, 'I'm going to take a small percentage of that money and it's going toward the wall.' Guess what? Mexico's paying."
“Don’t blame Trump. “
He ran and won on fixing this utterly ridiculous problem. Ignore the law in the name of national security under authority of CIC. Assert executive power. Let Congress fume and spitter all they want. Tough action here could bolster his base, make them forget about the omnibus disaster, prevent a Dem house come November, get him re-elected and prevent impeachment. Wimping out here could assure a Dem House and impeachment. The choice is his.
This is absolutely a test of Trump's resolve. It's clearly an organized happening, otherwise it wouldn't be a "news" item. It amazes me that Soros can do that, but with enough cubic dollars I suppose anything is possible.
This caravan is going to be stopped on American soil. As soon as ICE detains them, they are compelled BY LAW to bring them before a judge who will them a date when next to appear.
Mexico could have stopped them but refused so Trump is retaliating against Mexico and urging the feckless McConnell to invoke the nuclear option to undo fix the law.
Fix it like you did the budget. Oh wait, maybe not.
Yeah we were saying this under lil Bush Jr and that did not go far. PDJT want to keep talking about using the money allocated to the military to FUND the beautiful wall, hell just put the military on the BORDER with rifling pointed south.
Let the spinning projectiles spin.
This is AMERICA.....TYPE ENGLISH
I agree. Let's see if his 3D chess book has any moves for this
Yep. The Mexicans need a few bridges, esp. rail lines, taken out across their country....maybe some water pumping stations, too.
Perhaps now Gen Mattis will get serious about border security. From the pics most appear to be military aged men.
And do what? Shoot them? The only thing that would work is The Wall. They will get thru and then millions more will come. We need The Wall.
Of course we need The Wall, however, we can’t build it in the next week...when these 1000+ plan to storm our Border Guards.
There needs to be military back up to prevent this group’s illegal entry, as hundreds/thousands are waiting to see if this illegal democrat led mob plans to harm our Border Guards. I say if they won’t turn back, and attack our border guards.. YES, SHOOT THEM!
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump
Yes, Trump tweets, and speaks directly to the people. At least those who listen. So what’s your point?
We have border patrols, and at right time Trump will do what is necessary to protect border. The border wall cannot be built in a week, but it will be built!
Trump needs to talk with the guy financing this invasion.....Soros! Soros more than likely paid Mexico to provide food and other necessities thus allowing the illegal migrants to pass through their country with escorts.
I do not see this invasion ending well.......
A phalanx of troops does tend to make people think twice about what they are doing. What's your alternative? The wall will take years. They are arriving NOW.
The Romans built a wall around Jerusalem in three days. Barriers can be erected quickly if there is the will and man power. Hungry fenced off it’s borders in a matter of weeks.
We finally have a president who is doing his job and warning the US citizens of a border breach and the sheeple brained washed idiots in the news seemed shocked he would do that. We are in trouble.
Not for much longer........
I believe we should make sure the wall is secure and sturdy, and I would think our military could build it. Seabees build military constructed compounds all the time, and is part of Navy.
In 3 days...lol. It’s not like we have a pile of rocks laying around down on the border. Everything will be shipped in, and just getting it ordered take time. This is the modern shipping era, not a just a go to work in past history! Sadly!
https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/980538259313901568
.... In light of that report, It might be a wise idea activate the National Guard is preparation for the thousands that will more than likely swarm the Border. That was a small swarm in that video.
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