Large migrant caravan departs southern Mexico ahead of US election

A CARAVAN OF ABOUT 2,000 MIGRANTS LEFT SOUTHERN MEXICO SUNDAY, HOPING TO REACH THE U-S SOUTHERN BORDER BEFORE THE ELECTION IN NEARLY TWO WEEKS. THIS GROUP IS THE THIRD AND LARGEST SINCE MEXICO’S PRESIDENT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM TOOK OFFICE OCTOBER 1, MAINTAINING HER PREDECESSOR ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS.

OTHER GROUPS ENCOMPASSING 800 OR 900 MIGRANTS, MOSTLY FROM VENEZUELA,  LEFT MEXICO EARLIER THIS MONTH.

VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS SAY DIRE SITUATIONS IN THEIR COUNTRY ARE  MOTIVATING THEM TO LOOK FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

MIGRANTS TELL  THE AP THEY WORRY THAT AFTER 2024 US PRESIDENTIAL RACE, EITHER A HARRIS OR TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MAY BRING AN END TO ASYLUM APPOINTMENTS THROUGH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S CBP ONE APP.

ONE MAN MAKING THE JOURNEY WITH HIS WIFE TELLS THE AP, “THAT IS WHAT MAKES US FEARFUL. THEY SAY THIS COULD CHANGE BECAUSE THEY COULD BOTH CLOSE THE C-B-P ONE APPOINTMENT AND ALL THE SERVICES THAT ARE HELPING MIGRANTS.”

ONE ACTIVIST SAYS HE ESTIMATES ABOUT 40,000 MIGRANTS ARE CURRENTLY STRANDED IN SOUTHERN MEXICO.

THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAS FACED SHARP CRITICISM FOR ITS HANDLING OF IMMIGRATION AS US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION NUMBERS SHOW AGENTS HAVE ENCOUNTERED 8.6 MILLION INDIVIDUALS AT THE US SOUTHERN BORDER FROM FISCAL YEAR 2021 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2024.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER – EXPANDING ASYLUM RESTRICTIONS FOR MIGRANTS LOOKING TO CROSS THE U-S MEXICO BORDER.

UNDER THE ACTION, MIGRANTS WILL NOT BE GRANTED ASYLUM WHEN FEDERAL OFFICIALS DEEM THE BORDER OVERWHELMED.

RESTRICTIONS WON’T BE LIFTED UNTIL THERE ARE FEWER THAN 15-HUNDRED BORDER CROSSES PER DAY FOR 30-DAYS.

IMMIGRATION HAS BECOME A KEY ISSUE FOR VOTERS.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID HE WILL CARRY OUT MASS DEPORTATIONS AND HIRE 10-THOUSAND BORDER PATROL AGENTS, WHILE VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS SAYS SHE STANDS BY THE FAILED BI-PARTISAN SENATE BORDER BILL THAT WOULD HAVE POURED $20 BILLION INTO BORDER RESOURCES AND HIRED 15-HUNDRED NEW AGENTS.