The Central American migrant “caravan” arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border over the weekend after a month-long journey from Honduras, through Mexico. Organized by Pueblo Sin Fronteras, a transnational migrant and refugee advocacy group, the group has been met with harsh criticism from President Donald Trump, who threatened Mexico with ending the NAFTA agreement for not ceasing the group’s advancement.
On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that they will be filing charges against 11 individuals in the caravan that are reported to have entered the U.S. illegally.
The nearly 100-strong group of migrants arrived at the the southern border at the San Ysidro checkpoint on Sunday evening claiming they are seeking asylum. CNN reports that 20 to 30 migrants spent their time in front of the immigration processing center in Tijuana, Mexico overnight. Eight migrants from the caravan were officially processed by immigration officials.
An organizer with Pueblo Sin Fronteras said the group, “would remain at the immigration processing center until ‘every last one is admitted into the United States.'”
Though, a few stemming from the group decided to go off on their own to enter the country illegally, leading to 11 arrests by border patrol agents.
On Friday, border agents spotted people illegally crossing at a place called Goat Canyon, approximately four miles west of San Ysidro on the U.S. side. Some of the individuals were found and arrested on Sunday, according to local law enforcement officials.
Among the 11 charged with misdemeanor offenses, including entering the U.S. illegally, are, “two Salvadorans, six Hondurans, two Guatemalans and a Mexican national,” according to the report. One individual also now faces a felony charge of entering the U.S. after he was already deported, the federal complaint outlines.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions release a statement short after regarding the arrests and subsequent charges being filed.
“When respect for the rule of law diminishes, so too does our ability to protect our great nation, its borders, and its citizens…The United States will not stand by as our immigration laws are ignored and our nation’s safety is jeopardized,” he said.
