Trump has threatened to cut all aid payments to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala over illegal immigration.
Trump also tweeted "In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught - and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!."
Trump has sent national guard troops to the border before, it is unclear what he means by shutting it down entirely, and whether that would affect businesses or people with legitimate visas. And according to international law, the US cannot deport asylum seekers without first determining the validity of their claim.
The caravan of more than 3,000 migrants has made its intentions clear: they are heading on a nearly 2,800 mile (4,500km) trek from Honduras to the US border. The migrant caravan is currently making its way through Guatemala, mostly on foot, with several of the quickest already arriving at Mexico's southern border by Thursday. Mexico has sent federal police to the border, though they are not officially there to stop the caravan. Many migrants do not have passports and have been using national ID cards, which allow them to travel within Central America. Mexico, however, requires a passport at entry.
Trump also tweeted "In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught - and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!."
Trump has sent national guard troops to the border before, it is unclear what he means by shutting it down entirely, and whether that would affect businesses or people with legitimate visas. And according to international law, the US cannot deport asylum seekers without first determining the validity of their claim.
The caravan of more than 3,000 migrants has made its intentions clear: they are heading on a nearly 2,800 mile (4,500km) trek from Honduras to the US border. The migrant caravan is currently making its way through Guatemala, mostly on foot, with several of the quickest already arriving at Mexico's southern border by Thursday. Mexico has sent federal police to the border, though they are not officially there to stop the caravan. Many migrants do not have passports and have been using national ID cards, which allow them to travel within Central America. Mexico, however, requires a passport at entry.
Erika Guevara-Rosas of Amnesty International said in a statement: "Mexican authorities should not take a Trump approach treating people like a security threat."
"These families deserve dignity and respect to ensure that no one is illegally returned to situations where they could risk serious harm due to violence."
"The surreal side of this perceived crisis at the border is that the border is more under control now than it was 15 or 20 years ago," Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, told the BBC. Mr Selee said closing the border "would wreak havoc on Mexican and American economies". "It could be a symbolic effort," he adds. "A way of pressuring Mexico - but that would have a limited effect on illegal crossings and a huge effect on legal crossings." Mr Selee explained he thinks Mexico will "try to defuse the crisis" the same way they did with the last migrant caravan: by giving some people legal status or the chance to apply for asylum and deporting others.
An estimated 10% of the population of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have fled danger, forced gang recruitment and dismal economic opportunities. The region has one of the highest murder rates in the world. The UN reported murder rates in 2015 in Honduras standing at 63.75 deaths per 100,000 and El Salvador at 108.64 deaths.
Jari Dixon, a politician in Honduras, tweeted that the caravan was not "seeking the American dream" but "fleeing the Honduras nightmare".
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