Authorities in Mexico dissolved two caravans of would-be illegal immigrants heading to the United States, just days after President-elect Donald Trump warned he would levy a 25 percent tariff on imports from the country.
Migrant activists said this week that some were bused to cities in southern Mexico, and others were offered transit papers. Migrant rights activist Luis Garcia Villagran said the breaking-up of the two caravans appeared to be part of “an agreement between the president of Mexico and the president of the United States.”
The first of the caravans started out from the southern Mexico city of Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala, on Nov. 5, the day Trump was elected. At its height, it had about 2,500 people. In almost four weeks of walking, it had gone about 270 miles to Tehuantepec in the state of Oaxaca, activists said.
In Tehuantepec, Mexican immigration officials offered the migrants free bus rides to other cities in southern or central Mexico, members of the caravan and activists said.
“They took some of us to Acapulco, others to Morelia, and others from our group to Oaxaca city,” said Barbara Rodriguez, an opposition supporter who left her native Venezuela after that country’s contested presidential elections earlier this year.
The second caravan of about 1,500 migrants set out on Nov. 20 and made it about 140 miles to the town of Tonala, in Chiapas state, activists say. There, authorities offered a sort of transit visa that allows travel across Mexico for 20 days.
The Mexican National Migration Institute (INM), in a post on X and in a statement, appeared to confirm activists’ reports that at least one caravan was broken up by officials.
However, in its two statements, the agency denied claims the government “deceives foreigners who decide to abandon their transit through caravans and accept the transportation service offered by immigration authorities to move to different points where they have medical services and their immigration status is reviewed,” according to a translation.
The INM said that it also has “not received any complaints from foreigners who have opted for this aid, since when accepting it they expressed that they did not want to face more risks in their path,” according to the statement.
“At no time has the INM promised them anything that the institution has not fulfilled,” it said.
What’s more, it said, INM found girls, boys, and other “vulnerable people” within those caravans. Those people were removed from the caravans and referred for care to other government agencies under Mexican law, the agency said.
Last week, Trump warned that his incoming administration would quickly impose the tariff on Mexican imports if the country fails to make inroads in curbing illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
In a statement that same week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had a conversation with Trump and indicated that progress was being made.
At the end of November, Sheinbaum confirmed that migrant caravans, which travel through Mexico to reach the southern U.S. border, would no longer arrive in the United States.
“You may not be aware that Mexico has developed a comprehensive policy to assist migrants from different parts of the world who cross our territory en route to the southern border of the United States,” she said, according to a translation provided by the embassy.
Trump also warned Canada and suggested he would implement a similar tariff over border security measures. On Nov. 29, he met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago residence before several top Canadian officials revealed the country would implement more stringent border security and controls.
The Epoch Times contacted the Mexican Embassy in the United States for comment but received no reply by publication time.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California’s Central Valley. Follow him on X.
Reprinted with permission from The Epoch Times – By Jack Phillips
We did not hire (vote for) Trump to be “presidential” or diplomatic or “reach out across the aisle”. We hired him to kick a$$, take names, and right the ship. The outgoing administration is a total shameful disgrace.
It is amazing what all can be achieved in short time when right person is at the wheel .Bust the international crime ring to dust.Sure would be interesting to see who all on this side of the border benefited from the crime.
This is good news!! We know what progress Trump made during his presidency. And we know that Biden cancelled everything Trump had done just for spite!!
The American people spoke and they were right! Already things are turning around. Thank you and may God bless you, President Trump!
Yay! Finally something positive from the Southern Border where fentanyl and human trafficking is a serious problem
Just think, Trump didnt even have to threaten the withholding of remittances but the Mexican government knows that could happen. Do we need any more proof that sniffy is a traitor? A few scary words anytime in the last four years would’ve halted the invasion from the south.
YES! Donald Trump hasn’t even entered the White House and he’s already making good on a portion of his agenda!!! It’s a shame we can’t kick Biden and his anti-American administration out NOW and let Trump go to work.
We sure don’t need anymore illegals in the U.S.!
Can we send the Biden voters to Mexico?
So happy that common sense has returned to America. I’m still fearful of the 71M Americans who hate America so much that they would side with the insanity of the past four years and voted them back into office. Have that many Americans lost their minds???
In retrospect, do actions made by illegitimate presidents have any validity? such as the Kenian not being a US citizen? or Biden not rightfully winning the 2020 election?
I for one want all their actions aimed to destroying our country and its citizens to be completely null and void, that includes the pardons they have issued.
I want to fully restore our constitution, law and order and common sense.
We the people object having to pay salaries and benefit for representatives that represent the interests of their homelands and that we will reject a socialist regime at any cost.
Predident Trump is already doing amazing things and he hasn’t even been sworn in yet.Iwish the dems would get off his back and join him.
This was not ordered by Biden. He would have made that public with great fanfare. This was the reaction of Scheinbaum to Trump’s threat of 25% tariffs. By the way since when is a woman with a German sounding name installed as president of Mexico. I must say the Trump effect is really working. People everywhere want a normal world. Not a world where 99% of the people have to obey the 1%. People all over the world are breathing a sigh of relieve. Common sense is back. And the billionaires and the elites in Davos will have to explain to Herr Schwab how come they lost the power over us, the people.
The Mexicans CAN do something if they are pressured by the USA! Unfortunately, we have had pushovers running the country for almost 4 years. Now, let’s attack (literally and figurately) the drug cartels who are killing our kids with fentanyl and running human-trafficking networks.
Gonna get a real man in the White House.
President Trump is true to his word and working to improve our nation!
If these migrants are sooooo important to these “activists” then the activists should be funding the migrants. Let the activists show their love by providing room, board, clothing and education of the migrants. This is NOT the responsibility of the American taxpayer.
Today Mexico busted up a huge cartel fentanyl ring too…. amazing what a few threats will do.
Biden’s entire, “non-elected presidency” was clearly a paid, unearned vacation, enjoyed from his basement. Those of us with a pulse are very glad Trump’s back in office soon.
Now we will have a president again this is what a president does takes care of his country not like Biden and Harris and other Dems in Washington they should all be fired for what has been done in this country and any state that harbors illegals should have there federal funding pulled let them pay for what they want to keep in this country no one else wants to pay for them. Time for Biden and Harris to go they have done nothing to make this country better.