US receives 88 Central American migrant caravan members

Tijuana (Mexico), May 3: The US has accepted 88 members of Central American migrant caravan in last three days, raising their hopes of gaining asylum in the country. The Pueblo Sin Fronteras (People without Borders) Association, which has accompanied the caravan called “The Viacrucis” (Way of the Cross) since it left the Mexican state of Chiapas five weeks ago, announced that on Wednesday groups of 28, 21 and 14 people entered the US through Tijuana.

The representative added that hopes have been high since some of its members began to enter the US on Monday night when the first eight members of the caravan were received, followed by two groups of six and 11 people on Tuesday. Migrants who have been received by US authorities will have to go through a process that begins with the “credible fear interview”, which aims to verify their fear of persecution or torture if returned to their home country. In the camp the migrants set up near the border, the Red Cross and other organizations were providing water, food as well as medical check-ups. Dozens of migrants from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras had been camping near the border since Sunday night for fear of losing their place in line. The caravan, which began with some 1,500 migrants, started its trip in March in Tapachula, Chiapas, and on Thursday 150 had arrived in Tijuana. (IANS)