Immigration
Migrant caravan clashes with police outside Mexico City
Tensions between police and migrants has increased as Mexican authorities have attempted to slow the number of individuals traversing Mexico to reach the U.S. border
December 13, 2021 12:34pm
Updated: December 13, 2021 4:49pm
Thousands of migrants from across Latin America clashed with police on Sunday as the so-called “migrant caravan” approached Mexico City.
The caravan, comprised mostly of Central Americans, was walking along the Puebla-Mexico City highway when it was blocked by police officers deployed to escort the migrants through the Mexican capital.
Their plan was to reach the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Catholic pilgrimage site in the capital, but police insisted they should first spend the night at a hostel before continuing into the city.
Members of the caravan reported feeling threatened when they encountered 550 officers dressed in riot gear, and they began throwing stones and grabbing the officers’ shields.
At least a dozen police and an unknown number of migrants were injured in the clash, the BBC reported.
Tensions between police and migrants have increased in recent months as Mexican authorities – under pressure from the Biden administration – have attempted to slow the number of individuals traversing Mexico in an attempt to reach the U.S. border.
More than 190,000 migrants entered Mexico between January and September – representing a figure three times greater than what was reported in 2020.
The Mexican government has also revived the so-called "Remain in Mexico" policy, which was first agreed to with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Under the policy, migrants seeking to enter the U.S. must remain in Mexico as they await immigration hearings.
The Biden administration is trying desperately to deal with immigration from the “Northern Triangle” and has repeatedly discussed the need to address the “root causes of migration.”
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to announce $540 million in private corporate investments in Central America on Monday – a facet of the Biden administration's plan to slow migration from the region by making it more livable.
The new funding will supplement the $750 million in private sector money the vice president announced in May.
