Mexico/Guatemala/Honduras/US: Border tensions amid migrant caravan /update 1

Event

Increased security measures are to be anticipated at border crossings between Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, and the US in the coming days and weeks as a caravan of migrants continues to travel north en route to the US. Some border crossings may also be closed without notice; the Agua Caliente border crossing between Honduras and Guatemala was closed on Saturday, October 20, with police and soldiers blocking the migrants’ passage.

An estimated 3000-5000 migrants reached the southern Mexican city of Tapachula (Chiapas state) on Sunday. They had been permitted to cross the Guatemala-Mexico border despite warnings that only individuals with the proper documentation (e.g. passports, visas, etc.) would be permitted to enter Mexican territory. However, long processing times have led to high tensions and attempts at illegal crossings, as well as clashes between migrants and security forces (e.g. stone throwing). Thousands of additional migrants were reportedly still traveling through Guatemala toward the Mexican border as of Sunday.

Heightened security measures have also been reported at the Guatemala-Belize border, where buses were temporarily been refused entry until it could be confirmed that passengers were not part of the caravan.

Context

The initial group of migrants left San Pedro Sula (Honduras) on October 13, growing in size as it passed through Honduras and Guatemala.

Advice

Individuals in the abovementioned countries are advised to keep abreast of the situation, keep their distance from the caravan, and to avoid land border crossings if possible in the coming days.