A large migrant caravan is making its way toward the United States. Departing on foot from the southern Mexico area on Sunday, it aims to cross the American border before the November presidential election. Reported estimates suggest that the caravan comprises over 3,000 people and is expected to grow.

While the caravan includes people from about a dozen countries, most are Venezuelans. And local Mexican officials have observed “a significant increase in the number of children in recent caravans,” according to Reuters.

Fear of Stricter U.S. Immigration Policies

The looming possibility of Donald Trump returning to the presidency has heightened the urgency for many migrants. Trump has promised to close the border to asylum-seekers on numerous occasions, a prospect that has many in the caravan worried. According to The Associated Press,

“We are running the risk that permits (to cross the border) might be blocked,” said Miguel Salazar, a migrant from El Salvador. He feared that a new Trump administration might stop granting appointments to migrants through CBP One, an app used by asylum-seekers to enter the U.S. legally — by getting appointments at U.S. border posts, where they make their cases to officials.

CBP One is a mobile application launched by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in October 2020 to streamline the entry process into the United States for various users, including asylum-seekers. The app allows asylum-seekers to schedule appointments at U.S. border entry points once they reach certain locations, such as Mexico City or northern Mexican states. This geofencing ensures that users are within a reasonable distance from the border, and is aimed at reducing waiting times and preventing overcrowding at the entry points. Along with other features, the app includes identity verification to ensure that the individual making the appointment is the same person who appears at the border.

The Caravan

According to Real America’s Voice, migrants explicitly stated that their goal is to reach the United States and not stay in Mexico.

The migrants also praised President Joe Biden, saying that he was “sent by God” and that he has their full support, while accusing Donald Trump of “evil and cruelty.”

“We don’t want Donald Trump,” the caravan participants appeared to chant, as reported by Fox News.

“Every one of these illegal aliens should be detained, turned away, or deported, with no exceptions,” posted Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) on X, calling on Congress to pass H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which is aimed at significantly tightening U.S. immigration laws and enhancing border security.

Hung Cao, a congressional candidate from Virginia, pinned the blame for another caravan heading to the United States on “border czar” Kamala Harris, who has visited the U.S.-Mexico border just once.

Mexico’s Stance

According to various reports, migrants traveling through Mexico have organized themselves into large groups to reduce the risk of attacks by gangs and detention by Mexican immigration officials.

Recently, Mexican authorities have tightened the rules on travel permits for migrants, making it increasingly difficult for them to transit the country. This change comes in response to requests from the Biden administration and aims to manage the high influx of migrants heading toward the U.S. border. One of the significant measures includes the cessation of special humanitarian permits that previously allowed migrants to move freely through Mexico. Without these permits, migrants are not allowed to use public transportation, and motorists face fines if they provide rides to undocumented individuals. In April 2024, migrants complained that traveling through Mexico had become “increasingly challenging.”

Yet the Mexican government’s stance on assisting the current caravan remains unclear. While travel permits are seldom granted to migrants without visas, and many have been detained and sent back south, in the past there have been instances where the government has provided police escorts, shelter, food, and beverages to migrants.

As the current caravan progresses, other migrants are expected to join, increasing its numbers.

Trump’s Record on Immigration

During Donald Trump’s presidency, his administration implemented a series of stringent policies aimed at reducing both legal and illegal immigration. One of the most prominent initiatives was the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, with the intention of making it a “smart” digital wall to further deter illegal crossings. In tandem with this, the administration significantly increased the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), focusing on the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants.

The administration also took a hard stance on asylum and refugee policies, including the “zero tolerance” and “remain in Mexico” measures, and implemented the “public charge” rule, making it more difficult for immigrants likely to rely on public assistance to obtain green cards.

Once Joe Biden took office, though, his administration swiftly moved to dismantle the immigration policies put in place by his predecessor.

Speaking last week at the Republican National Convention, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to “stopping the invasion” at the country’s southern border.

Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio.), said at the convention that the new administration would stop the flood of illegal immigrants, and that it would have the will to deport 11 million of those who have crossed thanks to the Biden open-border policies, starting with the most dangerous of them.

Biden Scrambling

Amid significant backlash, in early June 2024, President Biden issued a proclamation to tighten border security, which mandates turning away noncitizens at the border whenever the seven-day average of daily border crossings exceeds 2,500 between ports of entry. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the measure resulted in a 40-percent decrease in encounters with illegals within three weeks.

Yet, the “encounters remain at crisis levels,” posted former Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, quoting June CBP data.

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