Questions about people fleeing Honduras and arriving at the US border

[oberliner]

In fleeing Honduras to get to the United States, they would have to cross through Guatemala and Mexico. Once in Mexico, they would have to travel several thousand thousand miles through Mexico to get to the US.

Here are my questions:

What happens when they reach the Guatemalan border and later the Mexican border? Are they ever detained at either border? Do the authorities in Guatemala and Mexico allow them passage assuming they will continue to the US? What is their legal status in those two countries? Is there a percentage of them who seek asylum or refugee status in one of those countries? If so, what is that process like?

[ismnotwasm]

1. You know I googled that

Got very interesting answers

[oberliner]

2. Can you post a link to the results with the best info?

[oberliner]

3. Could you post a link to your Google results?

I am not sure what search terms to use to get those answers.

[Lee-Lee]

4. From what I understand Mexican Authorities turn a blind eye

They often tell them they have a certain number of days to transit Mexico and make it across. The recent “caravan” group was like that, they showed up in a large group and while under Mexican law didn’t have legal ability to cross into Mexico were allowed to as long as they kept moving toward the US

They do stop and return a number of people in their southern border, at least according to government statistics. However that number is questionable at best given the high levels of corruption of officials in the region. If you read official Mexican Government reports you would think they have shut down border crossings in the south, but the reality is clearly different.

Reading some stories about the path of migrants the southern border of Mexico isn’t a large problem for them. They usually end up either bribing the guards directly or paying a smuggler who bribes guards to look the other way to their smuggling operations.

In 2014 the US actually gave Mexico millions of dollars to help them step up security on the southern border. It’s had little real effect other than the people crossing no longer ride the train over and now walk over around the checkpoints. It’s been more a jobs program for Mexican government employees supposedly working the area, but when they can make some money and let people pass instead of making less and stopping them most just take the bribes.

There are people who argue a person seeking asylum should seek it in the first country they arrive in that does not have the same threat to them, so a Honduran fleeing a gang that targeted her should apply in Guatemala or Mexico, and that if they continue through those countries to apply in the US because they think life will be better in the US they have changed status from that of a refugee to that of an economic migrant. In the strict definition sense that can be true, but Mexico is so crime ridden and corrupt I couldn’t blame anyone for not stopping there.

[oberliner]

6. Thank you for sharing that information

That is extremely informative. Do you have any links to more about this topic? Specifically, I am wondering if there is anything that can be done to make Mexico a reasonable place to seek asylum for people fleeing Honduras. It is so depressing to think of how awful the circumstances are for so many people across the continent in their home countries (and even neighboring ones).

[a la izquierda]

5. If you have the chance, watch "Which Way Home."

It’s a bit dated now, but it will answer some of your questions.

[oberliner]

7. Thank you for that recommendation

I will check it out!