A migrant caravan made up of thousands has broken through Mexican security forces attempting to stop them from making it to the US border on the heels of US President Joe Biden saying he lacks the time to actually go there.
Thousands of migrants gathered in Tapachula, near the Mexico-Guatemala border, and are now making their way to Mexico City and eventually the US border. Among them are people fleeing Haiti, Venezuela, and multiple other Latin American countries.
Department of Homeland Security officials previously stated they were keeping an eye on the caravan as Mexican officials have tried to prevent the group from making its journey. Footage on Saturday of the caravan making their journey on foot hit social media and showed thousands breaking through Mexican law enforcement officials, equipped with riot gear and attempting to build a wall to block the migrants.
People marching in the caravan held signs with messages such as ‘Joe Biden is for all’ and ‘we come in peace’. Some have also carried an American flag with no stars, telling the media following the migrants it means ‘America is for everyone’.
Migrants tell us the American flag with no stars means “America is for everyone” — they say the flag symbolizes freedom and liberty. The signs on the ground read, “we come in peace” “No blood” and “Joe Biden is for all” #BorderCrisispic.twitter.com/nDFMVl0O0S
Inrineo Mujica, the reported leader of the caravan, has called on Biden to do more for immigration reform and blamed poor conditions and lack of opportunities in Mexico for the thousands of people that have overwhelmed the US-Mexico border for months.
“What Mexico should do like every country is make sure they do their share… Money is not going to solve the problem, money thrown into governments like Mexico” he told Fox News’ Griff Jenkins. “They [migrants] should be given papers here, the opportunity to work here, because a lot of them don’t want to go to the US because Mexico, it’s a good place to live and to work.”
Migrants have said they are not interested in violent confrontations, despite pushing their way through the Mexican forces on Saturday. While DHS officials have warned that many people will likely be apprehended and then deported, the Biden administration’s approach to the border has come under intense scrutiny since he took office. Border Patrol agents are dealing with record-breaking numbers of migrant crossings, and reports from the border indicate many are released into the US after they are apprehended, with orders to appear in court at a later date.
Detentions of undocumented migrants at the border have passed 1.7 million for the fiscal year 2021, an all-time recorded high.
The caravan and the record-breaking numbers follow Biden’s claim at a CNN town hall this week that he does not have the time to actually visit the US’ southern border, despite the chaotic crisis there and the fact that he has not been there once during his presidency.
“I've been there before, I know it well, I guess I should go down,” Biden said about a potential visit. “The whole point of it is, I haven't had a whole hell of a lot of time to get down.”
.@POTUS again said last night he's "been there before" when asked about going to the border.
Last time I found where he went close was a 2008 campaign trip to NM. We landed in El Paso and drove along for a stretch. pic.twitter.com/7f8pl5Q9Vv
Numerous Texas officials have blasted Biden’s ‘no time’ excuse.
“Biden could secure the border and resolve this crisis in a matter of weeks, but instead he ‘doesn’t have time’ to even visit the border of the United States – the United States he swore an oath to protect,” Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy told Daily Caller about Biden.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s press secretary similarly criticized the president’s non-involvement in the issue, saying, “Americans deserve better.”
Footage of the latest migrant caravan headed to the border has only fueled further criticism of Biden’s handling of the border crisis.
This invasion is on the way to America. Will it enrich our country or be a net drain on our economy + push more of our citizens out of work? Will it make our country safer or less safe? The answer is simple and our response as a nation should be clear. #CloseTheBorder! https://t.co/cp6O0u2XTr
Coming to a town near you, care of Biden Air, landing in the dead of night. Don’t you dare ask about it or they’ll brand you a racist and sic the FBI on you. https://t.co/3SQ8aV23vo
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