Thread: Trump warns of migrant caravan following Fox News report, but organizers say reality

Trump warns of migrant caravan following Fox News report, but organizers say reality far from their portrayal

By Ben Gittleson
WASHINGTON — Apr 1, 2018, 5:46 PM ET

Shortly after a report on Fox News this morning about a “caravan” of migrants approaching the border, President Trump tweeted that the U.S.-Mexican border was “getting more dangerous” and “caravans” were “coming.”

But the reality is far from how the president portrayed it, according to a coordinator of a so-called “caravan” that prompted the report -- and apparently the subsequent tweets.

A group of at least 1,200 Central Americans is, in fact, making its way through Mexico -- but slowly, on cargo trains, and they won’t reach the U.S. border for about three more weeks, Alex Mensing, a project coordinator with Pueblos Sin Fronteras, which is organizing the march, told ABC News.

The march, versions of which have happened on and off since 2010 -- including twice last year -- will conclude at an official port of entry in California, Arizona or New Mexico, depending on train schedules, Mensing said. By then, he said, the migrants -- most of whom are Honduran -- will have heard from American and Mexican lawyers about the asylum processes in both countries.

Some will peel off before then, but most will likely claim asylum at the port of entry and be detained for anytime from a few weeks to over a year, Mensing said.

“We accompany them to an official port of entry,” he said. “People aren’t going to unofficial points of entry.”

Organizers hope the “caravan,” like other recent marches, will highlight the issues of the right to seek asylum and the right to seek refuge, Mensing said.

Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” twice this morning discussed a BuzzFeed report from Friday, referring to the group as an “army of migrants marching to America” and a “small migrant army marching toward the United States.”

One anchor questioned the organizers’ agenda, saying “it feels like more of a message, a movement to create a clash.”

About an hour after the second segment ran, Trump -- who is reportedly a frequent “Fox and Friends” viewer -- tweeted that it was “getting more dangerous” at the border and that there were “‘caravans’ coming.”

Trump added: “Mexico is doing very little, if not NOTHING, at stopping people from flowing into Mexico through their Southern Border, and then into the U.S.”

He also connected the march to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects people who came to the United States as children and remained illegally.

“These big flows of people are all trying to take advantage of DACA. They want in on the act!” the president tweeted.

But the end goal of the march has nothing to do with DACA and instead, Mensing said, will see participants legally claiming asylum at an official border entry point.

“All are people who are fleeing some form of violence or persecution in Central America,” he said.

Both caravans last year ended at California’s San Ysidros border crossing, near San Diego, Mensing added. This year’s started on March 25, in the city of Tapachula, in Mexico’s far south, he said.

Mexico’s foreign minister, Luis Videgaray, took issue with Trump’s accusation that Mexico was taking little action on migration, tweeting, "Every day Mexico and the US work together on migration throughout the region."

Migrating through Mexico can prove dangerous for Central Americans headed north. Many fall victim to human traffickers and suffer abuses. Banding together has helped promote safety, Mensing said.

"They are really leading this and protecting themselves as they flee,” he said.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...ry?id=54162057

The President needs to issue an Executive Order on Monday suspending all asylum claims from Mexico, Central America and South America as a condition of entry into the US due to lack of any condition in those countries warranting such a request and warn that they will be denied entry into the US, therefore. Just shut it down, and then investigate this organization Pueblo Sin Fronteras and shut them down. They're involved in illegal human trafficking using fraud to convince these people to join these caravans and marches. Just shut them down at the border. Do not let the attorneys on the American side have access to those on the other side. Post signs at all the crossings, "NO ASYLUM HERE".

THEY NEED TO BE "OFFICIALLY DENIED" ANY ENTRY INTO OUR COUNTRY.

THIS IS AN ORGANIZED, FACILITATED AND PAID FOR INVASION OF OUR COUNTRY!

STOP EVERY ILLEGAL ALIEN BORDER CROSSER, DENY ENTRY AND TURN THEM RIGHT BACK AROUND.

NO DETENTIONS, NO COURT, NO RIGHTS, NO ENTRY!

Denied entry at the border by the Executive Order of the President of the United States. Post signs "NO ASYLUM HERE." Turn 'em back, use your weapons to keep them out. That's why BP has them. Quickly and quietly move troops to all these crossings. And don't wear the desert gear, wear something bright, bold, green or something, not that desert camouflage.

But the end goal of the march has nothing to do with DACA and instead, Mensing said, will see participants legally claiming asylum at an official border entry point.

“All are people who are fleeing some form of violence or persecution in Central America,” he said.

If Mexico was doing it's job, this wouldn't be happening. These folks are trampling through Mexico illegally. It's not like their crossing secretly because you can't hide a group of that size. These people aren't considering asylum in Mexico because they know the "gold ring" is America! You can't have a welfare state and open borders.

Dispatch your military and escort the group back across the Honduras border, President Enrique Pena!