Mexican security forces clash with Haitian and African migrants near southern border

Record ID: 1430340

  • Title: Mexican security forces clash with Haitian and African migrants near southern border
  • Date: 6th September 2019
  • Summary: TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 5, 2019) (REUTERS) MEXICO NATIONAL GUARD CLASHING WITH HAITIAN AND AFRICAN MIGRANTS MIGRANTS TRYING TO REMOVE A BARRIER MIGRANTS ARGUING WITH MEMBERS OF NATIONAL GUARD NATIONAL GUARD AND POLICE SETTING BACK BARRIERS MIGRANTS ARGUING WITH NATIONAL GUARD POLICE AND NATIONAL GUARD HOLDING MIGRANTS BACK POLICE PUSHING BARRIERS BACK TOWARDS MIGRANTS VARIOUS OF SCUFFLES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AFRICAN MIGRANT, TONY, SAYING: "We have been told the President (Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador) does not want the migrants to leave the city. That is a crime. We don't want this. We don't want violence." CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND MIGRANTS MIGRANTS CHANTING
  • Embargoed: 20th September 2019 01:45
  • Keywords: Haitian migrants Tapachula Chiapas
  • Location: TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEXICO
  • City: TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001AVDVBD3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dozens of frustrated Haitian and African migrants clashed with security forces on Thursday (September 5) in southern Mexico, demanding to be given visas to continue on their journey north.
    Mexican officials have sought to slow down the U.S.-bound flow that President Donald Trump is determined to turn back. Trump has been demanding Mexican officials do more to thwart the migrants with threats potentially affecting trade with Mexico.
    The Mexican government has vehemently denied changing policy in response to threats, but has appeared to slam the brakes on its practice of awarding so-called humanitarian visas that allow migrants from other countries to pass freely within its borders.
    Without such papers, they are vulnerable to harassment and deportation from officials.
    Mexico's immigration institute said it would prioritize giving the visas to vulnerable groups including the elderly and unaccompanied minors, while offering transport home for others.
    The migrants - who have been in the border town of Tapachula, near the southern tip of Mexico bordering Guatemala for several months, said Mexican officials have not provided any explanation as to why they are not seeing to their claims.
    (Production: Jose Torres, Manuel Carrillo)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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