A caravan of hundreds of migrants is heading toward the US border, reportedly trying to reach the border that was closed ahead of the November elections due to fears that former President Trump will close the border.
The caravan carrying hundreds of migrants from dozens of countries left Mexico’s southern border on Sunday and headed north, the same day President Biden announced he would not seek re-election.
The Associated Press reported that some members of the group had said they wanted to reach the border by November in case of a Trump victory.
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Migrants walk along a highway through Suchiate, Chiapas, southern Mexico, on their way north to the U.S. border, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Edgar H. Clemente/The Associated Press)
“We are at risk of having our (border crossing) permits denied,” Miguel Salazar, a migrant from El Salvador, told the outlet.
Specifically, he spoke about allowing people to schedule parole appointments into the US through the CBP One app, which has been expanded for this purpose under the Biden administration and now allows 1,000 migrants a day to use the app – a program that Trump is expected to halt if elected.
Many of these caravans disband long before reaching the U.S. border, with migrants going their separate ways, sometimes arriving at the border alone.
The U.S. recorded record highs in contacts in fiscal years 2023 and 2022. Recently, cases have plummeted by more than 50%, which the White House attributes to new restrictions put in place by President Biden in June.
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Migrants walk along a highway through Suchiate, Chiapas, southern Mexico, on their way north to the U.S. border, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Edgar H. Clemente/The Associated Press)
The administration has repeatedly called on Congress for additional funding and reforms to fix what it calls a “broken” immigration system.
“While the President’s actions have achieved great results, it remains clear that the only lasting solution to the challenges we face at the border — a solution that provides the additional authority, resources and personnel needed to ensure border security — will come through action by Congress,” a White House official said this month.
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But Republicans have blamed the Biden administration for the historic border crisis, accusing it of rolling back successful Trump-era policies and adopting an “open borders” strategy, charges the Biden administration denies.
Calls for increased border security and enforcement were heard aplenty at last week’s Republican National Convention, with attendees holding signs that read “Mass Deportations Now!”
“We will stop an invasion of our southern border, and we will stop it quickly,” President Trump said in his party convention speech.
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Meanwhile, recent polls show that the number of Americans who want to cut immigration is at its highest since 2001.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
