- Title: Central American mothers of missing migrants say Trump cannot stop migration
- Date: 25th November 2016
- Summary: MORE OF MOTHERS OF MISSING MIGRANTS
- Embargoed: 10th December 2016 22:19
- Keywords: Central America mothers migrants Mexico Donald Trump wall immigration
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00359Y1UUD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The mothers of Central American migrant children who have gone missing in the search for a better life in the United States told a Mexico City news conference on Friday (November 25) that US president-elect Donald Trump's plan to build a border wall will not stop migration flows.
These parents make up the Caravan of Central American Mothers that includes 42 women from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, who together are seeking answers to their missing children in Mexico.
Their efforts come amidst anti-immigration rhetoric north of the Mexican border. US president-elect Donald Trump has vowed to deport up to three million migrants and build a border wall.
Salvadoran mother Anita Zelaya told media that despite Trump's efforts he cannot stop immigration north.
"Immigration will not stop, because in our countries, (life) is very difficult for our people. No matter the number of walls that are built, our people will go look for how to cross the border," she said.
According to official figures from Mexico's National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), about 10,000 migrants were abducted over a six-month period. Amnesty International estimates six out of ten migrant woman and girls were subjected to sexual abuse in Mexico.
But activists believe that 2016 numbers put this figure significantly higher.
"Currently the laws protect citizens and exclude quite significantly those missing Central Americans. The University of Zacatecas put the figure at 120,000 missing Central Americans. The National Commission of Human Rights talks about 70,000 or more missing. That means that for every Mexican citizen missing there are three Central Americans (missing)," said migrant activist, Jose Jaques y Medina.
The 12th Caravan of Central American Mothers will pass through various Mexican states, following the steps of countless numbers of migrants heading north to the United States. They will reportedly cover 4,000 km (2,000 miles) in their track.
With Mexico in the throes of a brutal drugs war, Central American migrants are easy targets for Mexico's ruthless cartels who are increasingly kidnapping migrants for ransom and forcing them to carry narcotics into the United States. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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