Thousands of Central American migrants made their way across the border of Guatemala and Mexico over the weekend as they trek toward the United States border in search of asylum, The Associated Press reported.
The AP reported that the so-called caravan of individuals fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries voted to skirt the asylum application process in Mexico after deciding it was taking too long. A relatively small number of migrants clashed with police as they sought to push across the border.
Roughly 2,000 migrants swam or were ferried across a river at the Guatemala-Mexico border, or made their way across a bridge before reconnecting with the larger group, the AP reported.
Many migrants seeking refuge in the U.S. travel in large numbers for safety on their journey.
{mosads}The AP reported that Mexican authorities attempted to maintain order and prevent the group from surging across the border. Mexican officials accepted small groups for asylum processing and provided visitor permits to other individuals, the AP reported.
The country last week requested United Nations assistance for asylum processing in anticipation of the caravan’s arrival at its border.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement that U.S. officials will “closely monitor the caravan crisis,” but suggested that members of criminal gangs and other organizations may take advantage of the group of migrants to enter the U.S.
“We shall work with our partners in the region to investigate and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all who seek to encourage and profit from irregular migration,” Nielsen said. “We fully support the efforts of Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, as they seek to address this critical situation and ensure a safer and more secure region.”
President Trump has seized on the group of migrants in recent days, warning in multiple tweets of the threat the caravan poses to the U.S. border.
He has wielded the caravan as a political bargaining tool, threatening to close down the U.S.-Mexico border if the group is not stopped, or to cut off aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador if those countries do not prevent their citizens from fleeing for the U.S.
The president highlighted a similar group of migrants traveling to the U.S. in April, using that group to rally support for his border wall and blame Democrats for congressional inaction on immigration laws.
Updated at 11:41 a.m.