- Title: Central American immigrants unfased by Trump's wall
- Date: 7th April 2017
- Summary: SUCHIATE, CHIAPAS, MEXICO (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF SUCHIATE RIVER AT BORDER BETWEEN MEXICO AND GUATEMALA AND RAFTS CROSSING WITH MIGRANTS CENTRAL AMERICAN MIGRANTS STANDING ON RAFTS WITH FEW POSSESSIONS, CROSSING FROM GUATEMALA TO MEXICO CLOSE-UP OF MIGRANTS' FEET AS THEY GET OFF RAFTS MIGRANTS GETTING OFF RAFTS ON MEXICAN SIDE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CROSSING FROM GUATEMALA TO MEXICO ON FOOT GIVEN LOW WATER LEVELS, CARRYING POSSESSIONS WIDE VIEW OF MIGRANTS WALKING FROM RIVER ACROSS RIVERBANK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN MIGRANT, MARCO TULIO DE LEON, SAYING: "No, they talk about the wall, a wall here, a wall there, but I think that people, with the needs they have, will do whatever they can do. You have to be able to get there, because now where I live, some people have left and they've made it (to the U.S.)." SOLDIERS AT CHECK POINT ON THE ROAD SOLDIER GUARDING A NATIONAL MIGRATION INSTITUTE VEHICLE MIGRATION OFFICIALS LEADING WOMAN TOWARDS THE VEHICLE TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEXICO (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) MIGRATION VEHICLES ON THE ROAD CLOSE-UP OF MIGRATION VEHICLES SOLDIER ON MILITARY VEHICLE GUARDING MIGRATION VEHICLES VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS IN THE CITY STREETS VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WALKING BY A STREAM MIGRANTS SITTING BY RIVER WITH A DOG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN MIGRANT, OSMI RAVEL, SAYING: "At the moment they do not want us immigrants much but that does not bother us, we are here for one reason and that is to cross this country (Mexico), to get to where our families are, to work very hard and move on." VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS SITTING TOGETHER BY A STREAM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MIGRANT FROM HONDURAS, ELVIN GARCIA, SAYING: "I think that even if they construct the wall, we will never be stopped. Even if they want to build it with (electric) current and little toys, weapons, they will never stop us because we are fighters. We are immigrants, we are not abandoned and they will not stop us with anything." EXTERIOR OF ALBERGUE BELEN, SHELTER FOR MIGRANTS MIGRANTS WALKING INTO SHELTER GENERAL VIEW OUTSIDE SHELTER, MIGRANTS WALKING INSIDE
- Embargoed: 22nd April 2017 00:20
- Keywords: Migrants Mexico
- Location: SUCHIATE, TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS AND MEXICO
- City: SUCHIATE, TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS AND MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016BEJ3UR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Central American migrants say they are not put off by the promise of U.S. President Donald Trump's border wall, nor by the treacherous journey preceding it, as they persevere against armed officials and legal difficulties in trying to cross Mexico on their way north.
Migrants from Honduras, Salvador and Guatemala have been crossing the River Suchiate between the latter nation and neighbouring Mexico, undeterred, many on foot due to low water levels. Guatemalan citizen, Marco Tulio de Leon said members of his community back home had made it to the United States and that the others would do whatever they needed to get there.
Elvin Garcia from Honduras said not even electric currents or weapons employed at the U.S.-Mexico border would deter them; he said they would not stop for any reason.
Many Central American migrants request asylum in Mexico, fleeing violence and persecution back home and biding time and protection from arrest whilst they journey northwards to the U.S. border. Local authorities, however, have been overwhelmed with asylum and other visa requests and many migrants are facing waits up until June or July for the next legal appointment.
In the southern border town of Tapachula, a migrant shelter offers refuge to some journeyers for one month. Following this, however, many sleep in boxes amidst the weeds around the river, hiding from the military and migrant officials which patrol the area.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said ideally the wall should be 30 feet (9 meters) high and the wall facing the U.S. side should be "aesthetically pleasing in colour." Contractors have already submitted their bids to the project. Trump has vowed to make Mexico reimburse the United States for its cost but Mexico has repeatedly said it will not do so. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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