Migrant caravan continues trek north in Mexico’s Veracruz state
MEXICO CITY – The U.s.-bound migrant caravan that prompted President Donald Trump to deploy thousands of troops along the southern border was headed north again Saturday, traversing the Mexican gulf state of Veracruz, as hopes for buses to transport the exhausted travelers faded.
The faltering spirits and eroding health of caravan participants – who have been on the road for more than two weeks since leaving Honduras – were briefly buoyed late Friday when the governor of Veracruz, Miguel Angel Yunes, announced that he would provide buses to carry them to Mexico City.
Video showed caravan members celebrating news about the prospective bus transport from their latest encampment in the town of Sayula de Aleman, in Veracruz state, 350 miles southeast of Mexico City.
The plan was for caravan members to rest, recuperate and receive medical attention in the Mexican capital while representatives sought to meet with government officials.
But then Yunes abruptly rescinded his offer, declaring that “it wouldn’t be correct” to take the assemblage to Mexico City at a time when the capital was experiencing severe water shortages. Ongoing maintenance work has left much of the capital and environs without running water through this weekend.
Instead, the governor offered buses to take the migrants to a site farther south in Veracruz state, a proposal that was rejected.
“The arrival to Mexico City is crucial,” caravan Migrants jump on a truck in order not to have to walk a part of their long way on Saturday in Sayula, Veracruz, Mexico.
representatives said in a statement circulated on social media. “At the moment the exodus includes dozens of sick children, pregnant women and various participants with illnesses and wounds.”
The migrants, mostly
Hondurans, renewed their trek early Saturday from Sayula de Aleman with the intention of making it to the town of Isla, about 45 miles north. That is still more than 700 miles from the nearest point along the U.s.-mexico border.