Migrant Caravan From Honduras Dissolves in Guatemala Before It Can Reach US-Mexico Border

Another migrant caravan was supposed to head to the US from Honduras, bringing in hundreds of migrants to the US-Mexico border. That caravan has now dissolved before it can even reach Mexico, according to Guatemala authorities.

The migrant caravan that dissolved in Guatemala was made up of mostly Hondurans and Venezuelans, who started the group of over 500 migrants back in Honduras on Saturday. However, as soon as it reached the border with Guatemala, the Central American country's authorities stopped it in its tracks.

"The movement of people disintegrated," Guatemalan Institute of Migration spokeswoman Alejandra Mena told the Tico Times. However, she confirmed that a small group from that caravan still managed to break off and continue on to travel to the United States.

Around 200 migrants were detained by Guatemalan authorities as the migrant caravan entered the country through the eastern Izabal department, near the border with Honduras. They intended to go to the US.

However, around 80 people were able to move forward in small groups. They were allowed because they had permits to transit through Guatemala, according to authorities. Meanwhile, the rest had to go back to Honduras as they were deported. Authorities did not reveal how many were sent back to Honduras.

Guatemala Officials Used Dialogue and Not Force To Stop Migrant Caravan

Guatemalan migration officers were able to stop the massive migrant caravan as it advanced only a few kilometers into Guatemalan territory. They then immediately processed these migrants and gave priority to the minors that were part of it.

As to how the country's officials were able to stop the migrant caravan, they stated that they did not use force and instead said that they stopped it through dialogue. Most of those who were able to continue were from Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, as these countries have free transit with each other. However, the rest of the migrant caravan was sent back to Honduras.

The Associated Press noted that these migrant caravans are actually rare as the vast majority often cross Central America and Mexico in small groups. They often use all sorts of transportation, with some even employing shady smuggling networks, which are often run by criminal organizations like drug cartels.

The Formation of this Migrant Caravan from Honduras

This was the first migrant caravan from inland and southern Honduras since January 2022. The area where these migrants came from was where many farm workers lost their jobs due to the closure of some plantations.

"We are determined to keep going because here we are worse off. We have no jobs. We are hungry," said one of the migrants, identified as farm worker Edgar Ivan Hernandez, who was traveling with three relatives, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

His cousin noted that they found out about the migrant caravan on social media and were encouraged to join.

"The best way is to leave in a group because that way we are not stopped much by the police or immigration," he said.

READ MORE: Guatemala Elections: Observers Say Political Parties and Justice System Interfered

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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