Up to 8,000 migrants advance in US-bound caravans across Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY: Thousands of Hondurans, including many families with children, walked together across Guatemala on Saturday (Jan 16) hoping to reach the United States, fleeing poverty and violence in a region battered by the pandemic and back-to-back hurricanes late last year.

Between 7,000 and 8,000 migrants have entered Guatemala since Friday, according to Guatemala's immigration authority, and they are heading toward the Mexican border, where Mexican authorities have deployed troops and riot police.

Once the caravan reaches Mexico, it is likely to be subjected to pressure to break up. Mexico's migration agreement with the United States is still in place, meaning the caravan would be dispersed, a Mexican official said.

The first migrant caravan of the year comes less than a week before US President-elect Joe Biden takes office, promising a more humane approach to migration, in contrast to outgoing President Donald Trump's hardline policies.

READ: Migrant surge into Guatemala reaches 3,500, heads for Mexico

In the meantime, Mexican and Central American authorities coordinated security and public health measures aimed at deterring mass unauthorized migration across the region.

Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico deployed thousands of security forces and the Guatemalan military detained hundreds of migrants on Friday.

The caravan has nevertheless grown considerably over the last 24 hours, with members citing a spiraling crisis of hunger and homelessness in Honduras as their reasons for joining.

"We have nothing to feed to our children, and thousands of us were left sleeping on the streets," said Maria Jesus Paz, a mother of four children who said she lost her home in the hurricanes. "This is why we make this decision, even though we know that the journey could cost us our lives," she added.

Coronavirus-related lockdowns shattered Honduras' economy, which last year suffered its worst contraction on record.

"First I lost my job because of the pandemic, and then I lost my home in the hurricanes," said Melvin Paredes, who joined the caravan with his brother.

"The only thing I have left is to fight for my family's survival."