2,000 migrants headed toward U.S.
Caravan coming from Honduras
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — An estimated 2,000 migrants formed a caravan in this northern Honduran city late Monday and early Tuesday and set off toward the U.S.-Mexico border, where thousands of migrants from last year’s caravans continue to wait to apply for asylum in the United States.
The migrants departed amid intense debate over immigration and a wall on the United States’ southern border that has prompted a partial government shutdown. The caravan that left Honduras in October drew the ire of President Donald Trump, who used the 7,000 migrants traveling north as a key rallying point in his push for wall funding. He has used similar rhetoric with the new caravan.
Hondurans traveled from all over the country to the bus terminal in San Pedro Sula this week after learning about the journey from a flier circulating on social media and local news reports.
The announcement called for a 5 a.m. departure Tuesday morning, but a crowd that had started gathering Monday afternoon abruptly departed by 8:30 p.m. and headed toward the Guatemalan border. Honduran aid workers estimated that the initial group numbered around 2,000, with several hundred more departing early Tuesday.
In the crowd Monday evening was Jimmy Senteno, who carried a small red backpack, and his 5-yearold daughter on his hip. As the 23-year-old wiped sweat from his forehead, he said, “I want to apply for asylum in the U.S., but I would stay in Mexico if I had to.” Unable to find work or leave his house due to gangs in his hometown of Comayagua, Senteno said he saw no other option but to leave. “I know only some in the last caravan made it, but I have to try.”
Soon after the caravan departed, it began to rain, continuing for hours and dampening the once-euphoric mood. Some hitched rides or got on buses headed toward towns closer to the border. Others stopped by the side of the road.
As late as 1 a.m., clusters of migrants were still scattered along the dark highway. Most were confused about why the group left when it did or where they were going to spend the night.