Illegal Honduran migrants walk along a road in Guatemala on Jan. 16. They are preparing to leave for the United States
As U.S. President-elect Joe Biden heads into office, a large caravan of illegal Honduran immigrants is trying to break through the barriers of the countries through which they are traveling and make their way to the United States. Some Republicans have denounced Biden’s campaign rhetoric as contributing to the influx of illegal immigrants.
Alejandra Mena, a spokeswoman for Guatemala’s official migration agency, told CNN on Saturday (Jan. 16) that an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 illegal Honduran migrants have crossed into Guatemala since last Friday (Jan. 15), with their destination being the United States.
And on Sunday (Jan. 17) and Monday (Jan. 18), still more Honduran migrants continued to gather at the Guatemalan border in an attempt to cross and continue on their way.
The caravans of migrants departing Honduras for the U.S. were stopped by Guatemalan security forces on Jan. 18.
The migrant rights group Pueblo Sin Fronteras urged the U.S., Mexican and Central American governments to allow the caravan to travel freely and seek asylum in the U.S., and demanded that the incoming Biden administration “keep its promise.
“We recognize the importance of the new U.S. administration demonstrating a strong commitment to migrants and asylum seekers, which provides an opportunity for Mexican and Central American governments to develop policies and migration management that respect and promote the human rights of mobile populations,” the organization said, “and we will urge the Biden administration to fulfill its promises.”
Biden has pledged to reverse many of the Trump (Trump) administration’s immigration policies. This includes ending Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP), which is seen as the cornerstone of the Trump administration’s efforts to end the Democrat-backed “catch and release” policy that has resulted in 90 percent of illegal border crossers either being deported quickly or returned to Mexico pending asylum claims.
In a recently announced plan, Biden emphasized that he would also halt construction of the border wall and provide amnesty to 11 million undocumented immigrants, among other things.
Biden also said during his presidential campaign that he would at least ask Congress to grant amnesty within his first 100 days in office.
“I’ve made it very clear that within 100 days, I will present to the Congress of the United States a pathway to citizenship for more than 11 million undocumented people.” In the second presidential debate, Biden said, “All those so-called Dreamers, those DACA kids, they will be immediately recertified so they can stay in this country and get on a pathway to citizenship.”
DACA holders are illegal immigrants who entered the United States illegally with their parents at a young age.
Caravan Members: Biden’s Promise Prompts Us to Come to U.S.
One member of the caravan of illegal immigrants who left Honduras on Jan. 15 told The Hill that he was going to the United States because incoming President Joe Biden “gave us 100 days to get there.
Honduran caravan migrants bound for the United States gather in Guatemala on Jan. 17.
He appeared to be referring to one of Biden’s previous promises to suspend U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations of illegal immigrants for 100 days.
“To go to the United States because they will have a new president.” The Honduran immigrant interviewed said, “He (Biden) is going to help all of us, and he’s giving us 100 days to go to the United States so we can get legal status and have a better life for our children and our families.”
A senior Biden transition official warned the immigrants not to come to the U.S. in the early days of the new administration, telling NBC News that while “help (meaning easing asylum restrictions) is on the way,” now is “not the time to travel” and that “the situation at the border is not going to turn overnight.”
Republicans denounce Biden’s policies as detrimental to the interests of Americans
Congressional Republicans denounced Biden’s campaign promises as triggering this massive wave of illegal immigration.
“During the presidential debates, Joe Biden promised mass amnesty,” Republican Sen. Tom Cotton tweeted Jan. 17, “and the rest of the world took notice.”
Cotton added Monday (Jan. 18), “Joe Biden is grasping at straws to enact his radical immigration agenda. He (Biden) released his draft immigration bill this week, and that’s what you would expect from the party that (advocates) open borders, and that is: blanket amnesty, no regard for the health and safety of Americans, and zero enforcement.”
Cotton added, “Millions of Americans are without jobs. Yet Joe Biden wants to give legal status to millions of illegal immigrants, which will lower the wages of American workers and make it harder for them to find jobs.”
“11 Million, 12 Million, Open Arms to the Caravan …… President Trump was right about Biden’s comments!” Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump’s 2020 campaign, also said.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican, warned that the wave of illegal immigrants coming to the U.S. is only going to get bigger.
“President-elect Biden wants to legalize 11 million illegal immigrants, and 7,000 to 8,000 Hondurans have formed a huge caravan to come to the United States where Biden supports illegal immigration.” Gingrich said, “After the first 11 million [illegal immigrants are legalized], guess how many new illegal immigrants there will be by 2024?”
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