Caravan rejects call to remain

MEXICO CITY: Migrants travelling in a caravan through southern Mexico have rejected a proposal by President Enrique Pena Nieto that they apply for refugee status in the country and obtain benefits.

Co-ordinators of the caravan read out the president’s plan called “You are at home”.

Migrants responded by shouting “Gracias!” but “No, we’re heading north!”

Activist Irineo Mujica of the Pueblo sin Fronteras support group told the group 80 per cent of those who applied for protective status would be rejected and deported.

He accused immigration officials of trying to scare them.

Mr Pena Nieto is offering benefits to the migrants if they register with authorities and apply for refugee status.

He said migrants would be able to access medical attention, schooling and jobs.

Meanwhile, Mexican authorities are cracking down on smaller groups of migrants who are trying to catch up with the main caravan.

Yesterday they detained a group of about 300 migrants who crossed the GuatemalaMexico border at Ciudad Hidalgo and were walking along a highway towards Tapachula.

The main caravan of about 4000 migrants is heading to Arriaga in the state of Chiapas.

An official said the group of 300 included Hondurans and Guatemalans who were detained because they did not have proper documents.

UNICEF said it believed that some of the 2300 children travelling with the migrant caravan were ill or suffering from dehydration and called for them to be given treatment.