Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 22 october 2018

A ragged, growing army of migrants resumes march toward US

By MARK STEVENSON "You have to help the next
Associated Press person. Today it's for them,
TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) tomorrow for us," Valdivia
— A ragged army of Hon- said, adding that he was
duran migrants streamed getting a valuable gift from
through southern Mexico those he helped: "From
on Sunday heading toward them we learn to value
the United States, after what they do not have."
making an end-run around Passing freight trucks were
Mexican agents who briefly quickly boarded by dozens
blocked them at the Gua- of migrants, and straining
temalan border. tuk-tuks carried as many as
They received help at ev- a half-dozen.
ery turn from sympathetic Brenda Sanchez of San Pe-
Mexicans who offered dro Sula, Honduras, who
food, water and clothing. rode in Valdivia's truck with
Hundreds of locals driving three nephews ages 10, 11
pickups, vans and cargo and 19, expressed grati-
trucks stopped to let them tude to "God and the Mexi-
clamber aboard. cans who have helped us."
Besi Jaqueline Lopez of the She even had kind words
Honduran city of San Pedro A Honduras migrant looks over the Suchiate River, which separates Mexico, right, and Guatema- for Mexican police: "We
Sula carried a stuffed polar la, left, as he stands on a bridge covered by drying clothes in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, at sunrise are very grateful to them
bear in a winter cap that Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, near Mexico's Ciudad Hidalgo. because even though they
seemed out of place in the Associated Press closed the doors to us (at
tropical heat. It's the favor- the border), they are com-
ite — and only — toy of her After praising Mexico for asylum in Mexico first, and if clear where the additional ing behind us taking care
two daughters, 4-year-old its no-nonsense response they fail to do that, the U.S. travelers came from since of us."
Victoria and 3-year-old Elis- when police at a south- will turn them away. The about 2,000 had been Federal police monitored
abeth, who trudged beside ern border bridge pushed courts are asking the U.S. to gathered on the Mexican the caravan's progress
her gleaming with sweat. the migrants back with riot do things that are not do- side Saturday night. But from a helicopter and had
A business administration shields and pepper spray, able!" people have been joining a few units escorting it. Out-
graduate, Lopez said she U.S. President Donald Hundreds of migrants from and leaving the caravan side Tapachula, about 500
couldn't find work back Trump again hammered the caravan did just that — daily, some moving at their black-uniformed officers
home and hopes to reach Democratic Party oppo- applied for refugee status own pace and strung out in briefly gathered along the
the United States, but nents over what he appar- in Mexico in the southern a series of columns. highway on buses and in
would stay in Mexico if she ently sees as a winning is- city of Ciudad Hidalgo. Their destination Sunday patrol units, but they said
could find employment sue for Republicans a little But a far bigger group ford- was the city of Tapachula their orders were to main-
here. over two weeks ahead of ed the Suchiate River from in Chiapas state. Under a tain traffic and not to stop
"My goal is to find work for a midterm elections. Guatemala to the Mexican blazing sun, small groups the caravan. They moved
better future for my daugh- After blaming the Demo- side individually and doz- of 20 to 30 paused to rest on toward the city be-
ters," she said. crats for "weak laws" on ens at a time, and resumed in the shade of trees on the fore the caravan reached
In dozens of interviews immigration a few days the trek at first light, march- side of the road, and by af- them.
along the journey, they earlier, Trump said via Twit- ing 10 abreast on the high- ternoon the caravan had As the migrants passed
have said they are fleeing ter: "The Caravans are a way. evolved into long lines of through villages on the out-
widespread violence, pov- disgrace to the Democrat "Si se pudo!" they chant- walkers straggling for miles. skirts of Ciudad Hidalgo,
erty and corruption in Hon- party. Change the immi- ed in Spanish — "Yes, we Jesus Valdivia, of Tuxtla locals applauded, shouted
duras. gration laws NOW!" could!" Chico, Mexico, was one of encouragement and do-
Guatemala's migration "Full efforts are being made The throng grew even larg- the many who pulled his nated supplies.
agency confirmed that an- to stop the onslaught of il- er than when the migrants pickup truck over to let 10 Maria Teresa Orellana, a
other group of about 1,000 legal aliens from crossing arrived at the border bridge or even 20 migrants hop resident of Lorenzo, hand-
migrants crossed into the our Souther (sic) Border," Friday, swelling overnight to in at a time, sometimes ed out sandals. "It's solidar-
country from Honduras on he said in another tweet. 5,000 or so. causing vehicles' springs to ity," she said. "They're our
Sunday. "People have to apply for It was not immediately groan under the weight. brothers."q