The Fiji Instances » Migrant caravan in Mexico heads for U.S. border as Americas Summit begins

TAPACHULA (Reuters) – A number of thousand migrants, many from Venezuela, set off from southern Mexico early Monday aiming to achieve the US, timing their journey to coincide with the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles this week.

Migration activists stated the group might be one of many area’s largest migrant caravans in recent times.

A minimum of 6,000 individuals, in accordance with Reuters witnesses, left the border metropolis of Tapachula. Mexico’s Nationwide Institute for Migration didn’t present an estimate of the group’s measurement and supplied no extra touch upon the caravan.

Caravan organizer Luis Garcia Villagran stated the group represented numerous nationalities of individuals fleeing hardship of their dwelling international locations, together with many from Venezuela.

“These are international locations collapsing from poverty and violence,” he stated. “We strongly urge those that attend the summit … to have a look at what is occurring, and what may occur much more typically in Mexico, if one thing isn’t achieved quickly.”

U.S. President Joe Biden is anticipated to announce a regional pact on migration later within the week.

The migrants, together with many kids, started their journey early beneath rainfall and fanned out throughout a number of lanes of freeway, with some sporting plastic ponchos and holding umbrellas, Reuters photographs present.

Giant caravans headed to the US additionally traveled throughout Mexico in 2018 and 2019, largely comprised of Central Individuals, adopted by smaller teams in recent times.

Document numbers of migrants final 12 months tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.

Colombian migrant Robinson Reyes, 35, stated he hoped the group would appeal to the eye of leaders on the summit.

“We would like a future for our youngsters … we need to cross Mexico with none issues,” he stated. “God keen, they’ll discuss and resolve this.”