Migrant Caravans Continue March Toward US-Mexico Border Before Trump Administration Takes Office
Migrants traveling in caravans toward the US-Mexico border remain determined to enter the United States before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Despite fears over potential mass deportation policies, many migrants continue to rush towards the southern border through Mexico.
Independent journalist Auden Cabello, speaking to Fox News, described the efforts by migrants to get to the US as quickly as possible. “They’re determined to make it into the U.S., one way or the other, because they’ve sold everything, they have nothing to go back to,” he said. Cabello expects that some previously quiet border sectors may soon experience groups of up to 200 migrants attempting to cross daily.
There have been some previous reports that migrants may now be deterred from coming to the US illegally due to the results of the presidential election. A Reuters report from last week stated that a caravan of thousands moving through Mexico had reduced in size by half following Trump’s victory. However, Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, emphasized that this reduction is common due to caravan splintering within Mexico. Ries suggested many will still aim to cross before the new administration takes over.
“Some will still rush to get in during the administration, calculating they won’t be sought or found for years,” Ries told Fox News. “Others may make the decision it isn’t worth it for them to complete the journey.”
Trump’s election has highlighted heightened concerns about US immigration policy. Throughout the campaign, most Americans agreed with proposals for stronger border measures and mass deportations. A Fox News poll last month indicated that two-thirds of voters favor deporting illegal immigrants, a 15 point increase from 2015.
