- Title: Nicaraguan migrants wait to jump on freight trains for life in the U.S.
- Date: 16th July 2021
- Summary: COATZACOALCOS, VERACRUZ STATE (JULY 14, 2021) (REUTERS) MEXICAN SOLDIERS PATROLLING NEAR TRAIN TRACK MOVING TRAIN SOLDIERS PATROLLING NEAR TRAIN TRACK MOVING TRAIN SOLDIERS STANDING NEXT TO TRAIN TRACK TO PREVENT MIGRANTS FROM BOARDING THE TRAIN SOLDIERS ON DUTY AS MOVING TRAIN MIGRANT LOOKING AT TRAIN MOVING TRAIN MIGRANTS LOOKING AT TRAIN VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WAITING NEXT TO TRAIN TRACK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NICARAGUAN MIGRANT, ROGER, SAYING: "I left Nicaragua mainly because of that (political crisis). They are organizing the (presidential) elections, and that is going to be difficult. The elections are coming soon." REPORTER ASKING: Are you afraid that something will happen to your family? "We are all in danger there. The government people are the only ones who are not in danger." MIGRANTS WAITING NEXT TO TRAIN TRACK CLOSE OF NICARAGUAN MIGRANT VARIOUS OF NICARAGUAN MIGRANT SHOWING SCARS ON HIS BACK AND HEAD WHICH HE SAYS ARE FROM INJURIES HE SUSTAINED DURING ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NICARAGUAN MIGRANT, JULIO, SAYING: "In 2018 I suffered a lot because they hit me in the head. I have scars on my back, stab wounds; I underwent surgery. As a Nicaraguan, we suffer a lot; if you don't support the government, it will be very bad for you." VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WAITING NEXT TO TRAIN TRACK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NICARAGUAN MIGRANT, WILMER, SAYING: "(The deployment of troops) is hurting us a lot. Many people are mutilated and injured because we are trying to get on the train while it is moving at 50 or 60 kilometers per hour, which is dangerous. I ask the President of Mexico to withdraw these soldiers. We are just migrants going to the United States." SOLDIERS STANDING NEXT TO TRAIN TRACK TO PREVENT MIGRANTS FROM BOARDING THE TRAIN VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WAITING NEXT TO TRAIN TRACK VARIOUS OF TRAIN MOVING AND SOLDIERS ON DUTY NEXT TO TRAIN TRACK
- Embargoed: 30th July 2021 17:17
- Keywords: Mexico Nicaraguan migrants President Daniel Ortega Veracruz political crisis
- Location: COATZACOALCOS, VERACRUZ STATE, MEXICO
- City: COATZACOALCOS, VERACRUZ STATE, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,South America / Central America,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001EM3C9XJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Each day, dozens of Nicaraguan migrants wait under fierce sun in Mexico's Veracruz for the next leg of their journey to the United States.
But standing between them and a life in the U.S. are armed Mexican soldiers ready to stop them from boarding the trains.
The train tracks running through Mexico's Gulf state of Veracruz have helped guide Central American migrants en route towards the United States for decades.
But under pressure from the U.S., Mexico has deployed the National Guard, marines, and police officers to train tracks in Veracruz, to deter migrants travelling through the country towards the United States.
Dozen of Nicaraguan migrants arrive daily on the train tracks, fleeing political violence in their country and economic crisis.
"We are all in danger there. The government people are the only ones who are not in danger," said Roger hiding his face while he waits to board the train to keep on their trek north towards the American dream.
Nicaragua's human rights and political crisis have pushed more civilians to migrate in dire conditions on their way to the US as Daniel Ortega's government corners the Central American country's opposition.
Ortega's government has arrested at least 15 political opponents in recent weeks, including five presidential hopefuls, ahead of the presidential vote in which the long-ruling leader will run for a fourth consecutive term.
(Production: Tamara Corro, Manuel Carrillo, Liamar Ramos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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