Biden Transition Official Tells Migrant Caravans Now’s Not the Time To Move to U.S.
Honduran migrants ride a truck to be transported to the Honduras-Guatemala border as part of their journey to the U.S. on January 15, 2021 in Nueva Arcadia, Honduras. The caravan plans to walk across Guatemala and Mexico to eventually reach the United States. Central Americans expect to receive asylum and most Hondurans decided to migrate after being hit by recent hurricanes Eta and Iota. Honduras recently asked to U.S. to extend their Temporary Protected Status. Milo Espinoza/Getty Images

Thousands of Honduran migrants are making their way to the United States border. However, an unnamed Biden transition official said that migrants eyeing to claim asylum in the U.S. during the first few weeks of the new administration might not be able to come to the U.S. right away.

Honduran migrants moved into Guatemala on Friday without registering as a part of a larger caravan. More than 1,000 Honduran migrants were reported to this, according to a Fox News report

The migrants are hoping for a warmer reception once they reach the U.S. border. Migrants group Pueblo Sin Fronteras said that it expects the Biden administration to take action, citing the incoming administration's efforts to ease the restrictions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

However, a senior Biden transitional official said the perception that the Biden administration will be able to allow all arriving asylum-seekers to enter the U.S. to make their claim on day one is false, according to an NBC News report.

"The situation at the border isn't going to be transformed overnight," the Biden transition official was quoted on a report.

However, the transition official refused to say when asylum seekers might come to the U.S. and whether they will be detained as they away a court hearing.

Honduran Migrants

Hondurans have utilized WhatsApp and Facebook groups to organize another caravan that was set to leave the San Pedro Sula on Jan. 15 despite the ongoing pandemic.

However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection acting commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement that the migrants should not waste time and money, and risk their safety and health.

"Migrant caravan groups will not be allowed to make their way north in violation of the sovereignty, standing public health orders, and immigration laws of the respective nations throughout the region," Morgan was quoted on a Reuters report.

Some 3,000 people left Honduras in hopes of finding a better life in the U.S.

Many were seeking to escape poverty, unemployment, gang and drug-related violence, as well as the effects of the two destructive hurricanes in their country.

Many American officials have already warned groups that include people of all ages and some entire families, according to an Arab News report.

However, Honduran migrants would have to show travel documents and a negative COVID-19 test to enter Guatemala.

Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico have an agreement with the United States to stop north-bound migratory flows from the south of the continent.

On Sunday, Guatemalan security forces have clashed with thousands of Honduran migrants as they try to hinder the largest caravan in years from reaching the U.S., according to a Financial Times report.

The soldiers turned on the migrants with batons and stocks.

Meanwhile, in Mexico, the National Guard and other security forces had already started deploying en masse to prepare for the arrival of the caravan.

Guatemalan officials said that the new caravan has at least 6,000 people after some people had returned home. Many migrants said they have no jobs that they can return home to.