Caravan Migrants Stall at Texas Border, Consider Alternative Routes – Reuters

By Alexandre Meneghini and Lizbeth Diaz

PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico – A group of Central American migrants aiming to enter the United States, currently stalled near a Texas border crossing, expressed on Wednesday their intentions to relocate to another area of the border for a better chance at quickly filing their asylum claims.

From the dusty town of Piedras Negras, just south of the Eagle Pass crossing, approximately 1,700 migrants in this latest caravan are looking to avoid a potentially lengthy wait to present their asylum cases.

Many among them are also awaiting a humanitarian visa from the Mexican government, which could open up local job opportunities. However, they are apprehensive about the violent activities of the Zetas drug cartel, known for targeting migrants in the region.

"We can’t stop here," said Oscar Lopez, a 33-year-old Honduran, who is traveling with his wife and two daughters. He shared that his family had fled their homeland due to death threats from gangs. "If we don’t cross here, we’ll go to another part of the border," he remarked.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that an additional 3,750 military troops would be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border to support border agents amidst what he termed as "the tremendous onslaught" of migrants heading to the United States.

Traditionally, asylum seekers have been allowed to remain in the U.S. while their cases are processed by immigration judges. However, with a backlog of over 800,000 cases, the process can stretch into years.

The Defense Department revealed on Wednesday that about 250 military personnel are being reassigned from positions in Arizona to Eagle Pass in response to the oncoming migrant caravan.

These personnel will include military police, medical staff, and engineers. Since October, thousands of mostly Central American migrants have undertaken the perilous journey through Mexico toward the U.S. border, drawing the ire of the Trump administration.

As of December 20, the administration announced a policy to return non-Mexican migrants who cross the border back to Mexico while their asylum applications are processed.

"These migrants face many risks," including dangers from organized crime, corrupt local authorities, and unwelcoming local populations, stated Alberto Xicotencatl, who manages a shelter in Saltillo, Coahuila, located about 250 miles south of Piedras Negras.

Earlier this week, Coahuila Governor Miguel Angel Riquelme declared that he would not allow the caravan migrants to traverse his state, although no specific measures were outlined.

Meanwhile, hundreds of migrants from an earlier caravan remain stuck in Tijuana, Mexico, many awaiting their turn to legally enter the U.S. and formally request asylum.