Instead of bowing to pressure from the US government to violate their human rights, the Mexican authorities must provide all those in the caravan with the assistance they need at this crucial time
An Amnesty International delegation will travel to the southern Mexican state of Chiapas from 23 to 26 October to document the situation of the migrants, refugees, and people seeking asylum who are travelling in the caravan from Honduras and monitor the response of the Mexican authorities.
“The Mexican authorities must respect everyone’s right to claim asylum and avoid detaining them or using force against people who are only trying to find safety for their families,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International.
“Instead of bowing to pressure from the US government to violate their human rights, the Mexican authorities must provide all those in the caravan with the assistance they need at this crucial time.”
Approximately 7,000 people, including thousands of families and children, have crossed into Mexico in the last week in a bid to escape the violent and precarious conditions in Honduras and other Central American countries and rebuild their lives in safety. At least 1,000 of them have requested asylum in Mexico and as a result are being held in detention while they await the outcome of their claim. The remainder of the caravan are making their way north.
The Amnesty International delegation will observe the caravan on a stretch of the journey through Chiapas, as well as documenting conditions at the Mexico-Guatemala border and the situation of people held in detention.
Read more:
Americas: Authorities must not deport caravan members to face danger (News, 20 October 2018)
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/10/migrant-caravan-must-not-be-deporter/
Mexico: Honduran caravan is not a security threat but a group of people with human rights (News, 16 October 2018)
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/10/caravana-migrante-no-amenaza-de-seguridad/
