U.S.-Mexico border crossing closed after migrant protest halted in Tijuana

[webfact]

U.S.-Mexico border crossing closed after migrant protest halted in Tijuana

By Lizbeth Diaz

 

Migrants and members of the media run from tear gas released by U.S border patrol near the fence between Mexico and the United States in Tijuana, Mexico, November 25, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - The United States closed its busiest border crossing with Mexico on Sunday after Mexican police broke up a protest of Central American migrants massed in Tijuana, scattering some demonstrators toward the border where U.S. officers hurled gas canisters from the American side.

 

Traffic in both directions was suspended at the San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said on Twitter.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump has raised alarms about a caravan of Central American migrants as it approached the United States, with its members planning to apply for asylum on reaching the United States.

 

Tensions on the border had been rising in recent days, with thousands of migrants camped out in a sports stadium in Tijuana and hundreds periodically gathering near the main border crossing. The migrants have said they would wait there until they could request asylum, despite growing U.S. measures to tighten the border.

 

On Sunday, hundreds of caravan members, including women and children, were peacefully protesting when they were stopped by Mexican authorities, who told them to wait for permission. 

 

As the morning wore on, and it became clear they would not get permission, people started to express frustration.

 

A small group broke off and headed a few hundred feet (metres) away to a part of a canal between Tijuana and San Diego that led to the border fence.

 

At that point, before the group had reached the border, U.S. Customs and Border Protest officers who had gathered on the other side of the fence launched canisters of what a Reuters reporter said felt and smelled like pepper.

 

Protesters were caught between the Mexican and U.S. authorities. A young woman fell to the ground unconscious, and two babies cried, tears streaming from the gas.

 

After running to relative safety a few hundred feet away, hundreds of the caravan members held a sit-in.

 

Later, immigrants again approached the border in groups and were met by a further volley of canisters emitting large clouds of gas.

Trump has deployed military forces to the border to support the Border Patrol and threatened on Saturday to close the entire southern border. But Sunday's action affected only the San Ysidro crossing, the busiest port of entry between the United States and Mexico.

 

Trump also tweeted on Saturday that migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border would stay in Mexico until their asylum claims were individually approved in U.S. courts, but Mexico's incoming government denied any deal had been struck.

 

(Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz in Tijuana; Additional reporting by Lucia Mutikani and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-26

[Tug]

Won’t take Donald long to give us a black eye on this one over here cnn is saying rubber bullets were used yes folks that’s against women and children seeking asylum 

[simoh1490]

26 minutes ago, Tug said:

Won’t take Donald long to give us a black eye on this one over here cnn is saying rubber bullets were used yes folks that’s against women and children seeking asylum 

There's a lot of reports this morning in the UK papers on this, including video to confirm both US and Mexican security services are indeed firing tear gas and rubber bullets at those people.

 

One of the saddest and most depressing sights I've ever seen in my life is standing on a hill that overlooks the US/Mexico border in Tijuana - on the one side is the green farmlands of San Ysidro (and further North) in the US along with nice houses, wealth et al, behind me on the Mexican side was a view of corrugated shacks, shanties, dusty roads and utter poverty, the contrast was stark.

 

[TopDeadSenter]

Not long ago there was a generous offer by Mexico's govt to give these migrants temporary work permits to allow them a safe existence away from the immediately life threatening existence they fled from. Any refugee would be extremely grateful for an opportunity to build a safe life in Mexico, where they speak a common language and share much cultural traits.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45999610

 

Ignoring such generosity and instead trying to storm the US border en masse, does two things. 1)prove they are the "invaders" that President Trump has already claimed, and 2)wiped out any and all sympathy for their situation.

 

 The sad thing here is that genuine refugees, the young, weak and vulnerable that really were being persecuted will suffer. 

 

 

[Credo]

28 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Not long ago there was a generous offer by Mexico's govt to give these migrants temporary work permits to allow them a safe existence away from the immediately life threatening existence they fled from. Any refugee would be extremely grateful for an opportunity to build a safe life in Mexico, where they speak a common language and share much cultural traits.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45999610

 

Ignoring such generosity and instead trying to storm the US border en masse, does two things. 1)prove they are the "invaders" that President Trump has already claimed, and 2)wiped out any and all sympathy for their situation.

 

 The sad thing here is that genuine refugees, the young, weak and vulnerable that really were being persecuted will suffer. 

 

 

The situation is a HUMANITARIAN crisis.   It is not an invasion.   It is occurring because people who came to a border to apply for asylum have been refused entrance.   

 

The problems are, in part, created by Trump limiting the ability of border officials to process them.   

[simoh1490]

1 minute ago, Credo said:

The situation is a HUMANITARIAN crisis.   It is not an invasion.   It is occurring because people who came to a border to apply for asylum have been refused entrance.   

 

The problems are, in part, created by Trump limiting the ability of border officials to process them.   

Humanitarian or economic?

[Tug]

Ahhh guys invaders come in tanks carrying guns and Grenades not mommies holding baby’s trying to strive for a better life glad I could clear that up for you,I think I will keep my feelings that it’s not ok to shoot women and kids

[zaphod reborn]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Trump also tweeted on Saturday that migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border would stay in Mexico until their asylum claims were individually approved in U.S. courts, but Mexico's incoming government denied any deal had been struck.

Trump is spouting off more total nonsense and lies.

1.  Mexico's incoming Secretary of the Interior says there is no such deal.

2.  You can't claim asylum unless you are on American soil.  Asylum laws can't be changed by executive order.  It requires an act of Congress.  Congress is out of session until the next year, when the Dems will control the House.

3.  You can claim asylum from a safe nation other than America, but Canada is the only country with that designation.  Mexico can't carry the designation, because it is not safe, by its own proclamation.

[fullcave]

Corperate media got what they wanted. Spectacular! 

[CMNightRider]

There are a lot of neighborhoods in America, that are far more dangerous than living in Mexico, or Central America.  If someone wants to come to America, go to the American Embassy in your country and submit an application.  

 

Try getting a few thousand people together that live in gang infested neighborhoods in America, and try to cross into Mexico demanding to be accepted into their country.  They will do more than fire tear gas and rubber bullets at you.

 

Trump is right to have the military help our border patrol to secure the southern border.  I enjoy ever morning I wake up and see Trump "making America great again."

 

 

[helpisgood]

39 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

Congress is out of session until the next year, when the Dems will control the House.

 

 

You always seem to write such good and informative posts.  So, thank you!

 

I think you overlooked a detail in your second point, however.  Perhaps you meant that the next long session, and thus a more effective one, will be next year?  As I recall, there's a short period of time known as a lame-duck session of the US Congress, which Wikipedia defines as follows:

 

"A lame-duck session of Congress in the United States occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the successor's term begins."

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lame-duck_session

 

So, that Democratically controlled House won't meet until after the lame-duck session.  

 

Here's an article that specifically addresses what to expect from the upcoming lame-duck session:

 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-to-expect-in-the-lame-duck-session-of-congress-2018-11-12

 

No big deal.  Keep up the great work!!

Edited November 26, 2018 by helpisgood
typo

[metisdead]

Off topic posts have been removed. 

 

A post in violation of fair use policy has been removed. 

[Sakeopete]

58 minutes ago, Credo said:

The situation is a HUMANITARIAN crisis.   It is not an invasion.   It is occurring because people who came to a border to apply for asylum have been refused entrance.   

 

The problems are, in part, created by Trump limiting the ability of border officials to process them.   

Maybe its about time people stop feeling sorry for these migrants. Europe and North America have stable lives because the people fought for it themselves. The corruption and mismanagement in developing countries is done by the people just like in Thailand. Maybe if bleeding hearts would acknowledge this fact and stop people running to Europe or America they would fix their own countries.

[DoctorG]

I would not bother sharing a right-wing report with you guys because most would not even watch it. So here is one from Tim Pool / Timcast who is a Bernie leftist.

 

[kamahele]

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Not long ago there was a generous offer by Mexico's govt to give these migrants temporary work permits to allow them a safe existence away from the immediately life threatening existence they fled from. Any refugee would be extremely grateful for an opportunity to build a safe life in Mexico, where they speak a common language and share much cultural traits.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45999610

 

Ignoring such generosity and instead trying to storm the US border en masse, does two things. 1)prove they are the "invaders" that President Trump has already claimed, and 2)wiped out any and all sympathy for their situation.

 

 The sad thing here is that genuine refugees, the young, weak and vulnerable that really were being persecuted will suffer. 

 

 

While you may believe that Mexico's offer was generous, these people aren't requesting asylum in Mexico, they would like to request asylum in the US. Mexico is a mess. Trump's threats has made a hard situation even worse.

[khwaibah]

Mexico deporting nearly 500 migrants after California border blitz

 

Daniel Chaitin

 

1 hr ago

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/mexico-deporting-nearly-500-migrants-after-california-border-blitz/ar-BBQ5K1h?li=BBnb7Kz

[Scott]

Another post violating Fair Use Policy has been removed.   Continue and a suspension will be given.   Re-read the rules, especially rule 14:  

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/terms/

[ezzra]

What gives the idea of people from poor countries that they can just march to the borders or a rich country and demands/force an asylum?

as if the US doesn't have it's millions of poor and homeless people to worry about? do they think that what happened in Europe when million plus were allowed to settle there will happens again here in the US?...

[Becker]

45 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

I would not bother sharing a right-wing report with you guys because most would not even watch it. So here is one from Tim Pool / Timcast who is a Bernie leftist.

 

What happened to the "why do I even bother with you people" you wrote yesterday?

Oh and a big thank you to you for not sharing a link to any of the right wing howling at the moon loony sites you're just itching to quote. 

[roquefort]

 

 

35 minutes ago, kamahele said:

While you may believe that Mexico's offer was generous, these people aren't requesting asylum in Mexico, they would like to request asylum in the US. Mexico is a mess. Trump's threats has made a hard situation even worse.

And why aren't they requesting asylum in Mexico? If you're requesting asylum you don't get to choose your favourite country from an a la carte menu. The first place where your life is not immediately in danger is where asylum should be claimed. And as someone has pointed out above, there are many places in the USA far more dangerous than Mexico.

It's the same issue in Europe. Why are migrants from the Middle East arriving in Greece or Italy allowed to march through half a dozen countries to reach the UK, where they know that the state benefits available are more generous? Asylum rules are being abused by economic migrants and it has to be stopped.

[Scott]

Mexico ruled out giving asylum to the caravan:

 

 

Mexico rules out reports of a caravan asylum deal amid 'delicate' talks with the US

• Mexico said Saturday that a plan to be a safe third country for asylum claimants in the U.S. were "ruled out," following reports in the Washington Post of a deal with the Trump administration.

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/24/mexico-rules-out-talk-of-caravan-asylum-deal-amid-delicate-us-talks.html

 

The previous reports were not for asylum, but would have given work permits to some.

 

It is also noted that Mexico is not necessarily a safe destination:

 

Dozens of migrants disappear in Mexico as Central American caravan pushes northward

Earlier this month, two trucks from the caravan disappeared in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. One person who escaped told officials that about “65 children and seven women were sold” by the driver to a group of armed men.

Mexican authorities are searching for the migrants, but history shows that people missing for more than 24 hours are rarely found in Mexico – alive or at all.

 

http://theconversation.com/dozens-of-migrants-disappear-in-mexico-as-central-american-caravan-pushes-northward-106287

 

[CMNightRider]

1 hour ago, DoctorG said:

I would not bother sharing a right-wing report with you guys because most would not even watch it. So here is one from Tim Pool / Timcast who is a Bernie leftist.

 

Great post with up to date video footage showing these people trying to cross the southern border into the US by force.  It certainly looks like an invasion to me.  I'm thankful President Trump isn't allowing this to happen.

[Berkshire]

27 minutes ago, ezzra said:

What gives the idea of people from poor countries that they can just march to the borders or a rich country and demands/force an asylum?

as if the US doesn't have it's millions of poor and homeless people to worry about? do they think that what happened in Europe when million plus were allowed to settle there will happens again here in the US?...

Asylum is not about poverty or homelessness. 

 

[Asylum has two basic requirements. First, an asylum applicant must establish that he or she fears persecution in their home country.  Second, the applicant must prove that he or she would be persecuted on account of one of five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or particular social group.]

 

I do wonder why there isn't more talk/accountability regarding the countries that these refugees are fleeing from.  What the heck is going on in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador?  What's the leadership saying about their own citizens fleeing?  Anyways, I don't support blindly letting everyone in....but Americans can still demonstrate a bit of compassion.  

[Credo]

5 minutes ago, CMNightRider said:

Great post with up to date video footage showing these people trying to cross the southern border into the US by force.  It certainly looks like an invasion to me.  I'm thankful President Trump isn't allowing this to happen.

It seems like some bad things happen when a President who does everything to pervert the legal process of asylum.   If he continues to obstruct them, there will be more trouble and he will blame them when in fact it is he who is at fault.

 

Follow your own laws Trump.   Let them apply for asylum.   Somewhere between 40-60% will never pass the asylum process and will be returned.   

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, DoctorG said:

I would not bother sharing a right-wing report with you guys because most would not even watch it. So here is one from Tim Pool / Timcast who is a Bernie leftist.

 

Tim Pool is someone who claims to be a Centrist not a Bernie leftist. Anyway what he really is is a Trump apologist. His biggest fans are alt right Trump supporters. You can see that this is so if you Google Tim Pool.  If you do a search for Tim Pool Google will show you something called "People also search for..." In Tim Pool's case the names that currently pop up are Paul Joseph Watson, Laura Southern, Stefan Molyneus, and Mark Dice. All are extreme right wingers. In other words overwhelmingly the people who follow Tim Pool also follow the antics of other extreme right wingers.

[CMNightRider]

3 minutes ago, Credo said:

It seems like some bad things happen when a President who does everything to pervert the legal process of asylum.   If he continues to obstruct them, there will be more trouble and he will blame them when in fact it is he who is at fault.

 

Follow your own laws Trump.   Let them apply for asylum.   Somewhere between 40-60% will never pass the asylum process and will be returned.   

The only bad thing that is happening at the border between Mexico and the US, is a large group of people from other countries trying to enter the US illegally.  If I were trying to seek asylum, I certainly wouldn't join a few thousand people and try to rush the border.  

 

I hope border security uses copious amounts of chemical agents and rubber rounds to stop this senseless invasion.  If they don't halt this assault on the US border decisively, others will follow and turn the US into a third world country.

 

  

[NickJ]

I'm sure George Soros won't let his Holy Crusade end so easily.

[bristolboy]

4 minutes ago, NickJ said:

I'm sure George Soros won't let his Holy Crusade end so easily.

How a lie about George Soros and the migrant caravan multiplied online

USA TODAY followed the rapid spread of a social media conspiracy theory about George Soros and migrants that grew from obscurity to the political mainstream.

https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2018/10/31/george-soros-and-migrant-caravan-how-lie-multiplied-online/1824633002/

[meinphuket]

I am an EU national, and the only thing I agree with Trump on is that illegal immigration is just that. Whereas legal travellers are harassed at airports by immigration officials, these undocumented Latinos think its their God-given right to just walk into  another country because they are poor, can't find a job back home, or their husbands beat them up. Wish the EU developed some balls too, listened to what their nationals want, and push back illegal inmigrants before all hell breaks loose !

[bristolboy]

6 minutes ago, meinphuket said:

I am an EU national, and the only thing I agree with Trump on is that illegal immigration is just that. Whereas legal travellers are harassed at airports by immigration officials, these undocumented Latinos think its their God-given right to just walk into  another country because they are poor, can't find a job back home, or their husbands beat them up. Wish the EU developed some balls too, listened to what their nationals want, and push back illegal inmigrants before all hell breaks loose !

I guess that you as an EU national aren't aware that the EU has pushed back and illegal immigration is way way down from its levels of just a few years ago.