Avellon Williams
MEXICO – While leaders of the Summit of the Americas gathered in Los Angeles for a recent meeting, over 2,500 miles away a massive migrant caravan headed toward the United States 🇺🇸 gathered in Chiapas, Mexico.
There have been reports that up to 15,000 people could join the caravan, and while it is not the first caravan from Central America, it is the largest ever.
TITLE 42 EXPULSIONS
Title 42 expulsions are removals by the U.S. government of persons who have recently been in a country where a communicable disease was present. The extent of authority for contagion-related expulsions is set out by law in 42 U.S.C. § 265. (Wikipedia)
The caravan’s organizer and director of the non-profit Center for Human Dignification, Luis Villagrán, said, “This is the largest mass human migration I have seen in at least the past 10 years.”
Luis Villagrán
It is estimated that 70% of the caravan consists of women and children, ranging in age from infants to those in their seventies. The caravan, huddled together for safety and protection, is aiming to trek the duration of Mexico.
CUBA, NICARAGUA, AND VENEZUELA
Many of the migrants in the caravan come from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, three countries ruled by dictators that Biden has refused to invite to his Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles.
Reports have also indicated that the group of migrants includes individuals from Haiti, Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and even India, Bangladesh, and several African nations.
The Mexican National Migration Institute (INM) contacted Villagrán earlier this month, expressing sympathy for migrants in need and promising to help those vulnerable among them.
The INM reports that the massive migrant caravan is the result of an unprecedented wave of migration from nearly every Central American nation to the United States over the past couple of years.
Across Central America, increased violence and economic insecurity have contributed to mass migrations. The Mexican government’s communication with Villagrán reportedly marks the first time the government has responded to a caravan before its departure, possibly signaling a change of attitude toward large migration groups.
IMMIGRATION USED AS A POLITICAL TOOL
According to Villagrán, “Immigration, including US immigration, is used as a political tool. These women and children are like coins to be exchanged.
It’s very possible [Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador] wants to use this caravan to look like a humanitarian issue before the Summit of the Americas.”
But those in the migrant caravan are well aware of the dangers they face. Recent months have seen the Mexican National Guard become increasingly aggressive when it comes to tackling groups of migrants. In April, when Villagrán was leading a smaller caravan, he was allegedly attacked by National Guards.
In Tapachula, a city in the state of Chiapas, the National Guard routinely enforces its rules by arresting, detaining, and teargassing ‘unruly’ migrants in front of the city’s INM office, where migrants wait over a year to get a humanitarian visa to leave the city.
U.S. HUMANITARIAN VISAS DEMANDED
The caravan’s leader, Villagrán, and the migrants are demanding U.S. humanitarian visas in advance of their departure. This would allow them to pass through various migrant checkpoints on their journey without being arrested or subjected to violence by the Mexican National Guard.
In the absence of a U.S. visa, anyone attempting to pass through an immigration checkpoint will be sent back to Tapachula and forced to wait for documents that may never arrive.
The number of migrants entering Tapachula has doubled or tripled in the last three months alone. More than 2,000 migrants are now living in shelters that once held no more than 400 people. It has been reported that bathrooms are overflowing, food is scarce, and many people in the jungle are forced to sleep on items of clothing.
According to a Venezuelan traveler, “I hope that my five-year-old doesn’t remember the conditions in the shelter.” I’m joining the caravan! I’m leaving as quickly as I can. This place is a trap,” the traveler added.
Venezuelan traveler
Venezuelan Liozanys Comeja credits her little teacup chihuahua puppy, Mia, for helping her survive. Five years ago, Comeja moved to Colombia, but due to rising living costs, she decided to leave behind her new life this month.
Mia her chihuahua was tucked into her backpack as she crossed the Darien Gap, a notorious stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama, eventually traveling across eight countries.
Comeja is now hoping her puppy will help her get through the final leg of their journey. “Whenever I get discouraged, Mia calms me down,” Comeja said. When they arrive at the U.S. border, Comeja plans to cross the Rio Grande on foot.
