Migrants headed for US cross into Mexico from Guatemala

Hundreds of migrants headed for the U.S. reportedly crossed from Guatemala into Mexico on Monday. 

The migrants waded across the Suchiate River after Mexican officials barred them passage through a border bridge, The Associated Press reports. 

The migrants are seeking to pass freely through Mexico to the U.S. border, but Mexico’s government reportedly rejected that. Mexico is restricting migrants to the southernmost states while their cases are processed, according to AP. Those who do not request asylum will likely be detained or deported. 

According to AP, there was pushing and shoving as migrants clashed with Mexican officials as they tried to cross the river. Some guardsmen reportedly carried plastic riot shields, and were hit with rocks tossed by migrants. 

Some of the migrants crossed back into Guatemala, according to AP.  

Edwin Chavez, a 19-year-old from Teguicigalpa, told AP “there’s no fear” regarding the cross through the river into Mexico. 

“We’re already used to repression. In your country they repress you, they hit you. It’s always like that,” he said. 

President Trump has forced asylum seekers to remain in Mexico or apply for asylum in Central American countries. 

Undocumented migration into the U.S. through the border with Mexico has been a key issue for Trump since his 2016 campaign. He has pledged to build a wall with the southern border as a mechanism he has said would mitigate the issue.