Central American mothers crossing Mexico in search of migrant children arrive in Veracruz

Record ID: 78133

  • Title: Central American mothers crossing Mexico in search of migrant children arrive in Veracruz
  • Date: 20th November 2016
  • Summary: CORDOBA, VERACRUZ, MEXICO (NOVEMBER 19, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MOTHERS OF MISSING CENTRAL AMERICAN MIGRANTS PARTICIPATING IN CARAVAN MARCHING MOTHER CHANTING: "WHERE ARE OUR CHILDREN?" VARIOUS OF MOTHERS DEMONSTRATING AND CHANTING SLOGANS CALLING FOR JUSTICE MOTHER WIPING TEARS FROM EYES MOTHERS CHANTING (UNINTELLIGIBLE) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN MOTHER OF MISSING MIGRANT, MANUELA DE JESUS FRANCO, SAYING: "What I am saying is that he [referring to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump] should put his hand to his heart because everyone who is going [to the U.S.] to work is not going to do anything bad. They are going for the future of their children that they left here because in Guatemala there isn't any work. So he should see that they are coming because they need to come and without shoes on their feet, blistered. Now he wants to kick them out. It is not fair." MOTHERS ARRIVING FOR MEETING WITH MIGRANT ACTIVISTS MOTHERS FILLING OUT DOCUMENTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CONSUL GENERAL OF HONDURAS IN VERACRUZ, RAUL OTONIEL MORAZAN, SAYING: "We are preparing a plan for what could happen in relation to the change in government in the United States. I can tell you that in 2015-2016, percentage-wise, compared with 2014, migration from Honduras has decreased." AMATLAN DE LOS REYES, VERACRUZ, MEXICO (NOVEMBER 19, 2016) (REUTERS) WELCOME POSTER FROM LOCAL MIGRANT-AID GROUP CALLED "LAS PATRONAS" READING: "THE MOTHERS OF CENTRAL AMERICA ARE WELCOMED TO THE CAFETERIA "THE HOPE OF THE MIGRANT" GUATEMALAN SISTERS WHO HAVEN'T SEEN EACH OTHER IN 30 YEARS, NORMA AND AIDA RODRIGUEZ, MEETING (AIDA IS A MEMBER OF THE MOTHERS' CARAVAN) MOTHERS MEETING WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COORDINATOR OF THE MESOAMERICAN MIGRANT MOVEMENT, RUBEN FIGUEROA, SAYING: "We managed to find the family [Norma's] and we told her that her sister was alive. We told her family [Aida's] that we have found the family [Norma's] and we began to make contact. This was a month and a half ago. We said that Mrs. Norma Yanet [her married name] would come to the caravan to reunite with her sister." VARIOUS OF MOTHERS MEETING WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2016 15:15
  • Keywords: Central American migrants mothers caravan missing
  • Location: CORDOBA AND AMATLAN DE LOS REYES, VERACRUZ, MEXICO
  • City: CORDOBA AND AMATLAN DE LOS REYES, VERACRUZ, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015990I0Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dozens of Central American mothers on a journey through Mexico to find their children who went missing while heading toward the United States arrived in the state of Veracruz on Saturday (November 19).
    Veracruz is a key stop for would-be migrants on the journey north and the 42 Guatemalan, Honduran, Nicaraguan and Salvadoran mothers went first to the city of Cordoba.
    There, they marched through the streets calling for justice and help from Mexico in the search for their missing children.
    The movement from these mothers comes amidst heightened rhetoric in North America towards migrants.
    U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has vowed to deport up to 3 million migrants from the United States when in office.
    One mother had a message for Trump.
    "What I am saying is that he [referring to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump] should put his hand to his heart because everyone who is going [to the U.S.] to work is not going to do anything bad. They are going for the future of their children that they left here because in Guatemala there isn't any work. So he should see that they are coming because they need to come and without shoes on their feet, blistered. Now he wants to kick them out. It is not fair," said Manuela de Jesus Franco.
    While in Cordoba, the mothers also filled out paperwork to help in the search for their children and met with the Consul General of Honduras in Veracruz, Raul Otoniel Morazan.
    "We are preparing a plan for what could happen in relation to the change in government in the United States. I can tell you that in 2015-2016, percentage-wise, compared with 2014, migration from Honduras has decreased," he said.
    Next, the mothers continued their Veracruz visit with a stop in the city of Amatlan de los Reyes. There, they met with a group of 14 local women who call themselves "Las Patronas" and aid migrants passing through.
    While there, the group also witnessed two long-lost Guatemalan sisters reunite.
    Norma and Aida Rodriguez were separated 30 years ago when Norma set out on the trip north. A Mexican migrant aid organization found Norma alive and well and brought her to her sister Aida, who is one of the mothers traveling in the caravan.
    "We managed to find the family [Norma's] and we told her that her sister was alive. We told her family [Aida's] that we have found the family [Norma's] and we began to make contact. This was a month and a half ago. We said that Mrs. Norma Yanet [her married name] would come to the caravan to reunite with her sister," said Ruben Figueroa, the coordinator of the MesoAmerican Migrant Movement.
    The mothers' caravan entered Mexico from Guatemala on November 15. Backed by human rights activists in the country, the convoy of mothers will travel across 11 Mexican states, covering some 4,000 kilometres (2,000 miles).
    According to 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.
    Every year, thousands of Central American migrants travel some 3,000 km (1,900 miles) through Mexico hoping for a better life in the United States.
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