Ocotepeque, Honduras.
At night, when the customs of Hot water, border between Guatemala and Honduras, Remains closed, the passage of migrants seeking the “American dream” does not stop.
Although the United States announced this week that Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras would shield their borders to stop the passage of migrants, on the dividing lines between these two Central American countries everything goes smoothly and are protected only by some troops. police as usual.
Even without caravans, dozens of migrants carry out the migration procedure during the day to enter Guatemala and other groups are made to pass clandestinely using the points blind helped by “coyotes.”
They go alone or in small groups so as not to attract attention in the hope of not being seen by the scattered military and police. in the colindancias of both countries.
LEA: Republican governor rejects request to house immigrant children
THE PRESS he crossed the border at night in search of people going to the United States and noted the intense migratory flow of Hondurans and foreigners through this border point in the west of the country.
Last Tuesday, April 13, at midnight, a bus from Tegucigalpa arrived in Ocotepeque and, at a checkpoint, was stopped by agents of the National Police, and to their surprise, 46 Haitians were transported. Honduran migrants heading towards Hot water.
The Haitians, with a bit of fear on their faces and without mastering the Spanish language, got off the bus and proceeded to review their immigration status and the veracity of their documents.
Police found that they had entered the country illegally through the department of Paradise, and after paying a fine of L4,500 per person the Migration Institute had been granted a permit to travel for five days in the country and then leave where they entered.
Although the intention of the Haitian migrants was not to return to where they entered, there was no reason to stop them and they continued their journey after an hour of validation with the Prosecution.
“We are going to the United States in search of work and a better life. We have been advancing through South America. It has been a very difficult journey, we have barely managed to buy food with the money they send us. our relatives, “he told LA PRESSA one of the few Spanish-speaking Haitians.
In a second reinforcement, near the border, they were ordered to retreat to Ocotepeque, as the customs was closed.
“We can’t stop them, they paid a fine to Migration and they can drive for five days in Honduras, if they pass illegally in Guatemala is already a responsibility in its territory. However, we will not let them cross the border because it is closed, “said one of the agents in the operation.
The foreigners were guarded at 3:00 am in Ocotepeque Park and due to the lack of explanations from the Police, some started crying and others complained to the driver and ordered him to take them to the border without wanting to get off the unit. With the sunrise, the Haitians planned their entry in Guatemala for blind spots.
motivations
Other Honduran migrants remained at the Aigua Calenta border at midnight on Tuesday awaiting the opportunity to make their way through Guatemala, as hours earlier the Guatemalan Police and Army he had made them retreat in an operation at Chiquimula.
“We are electric technicians, there is no work in Honduras, but it is difficult to get through Guatemala. We have tried several veces go out for Hot Water. When I ran out I left my suitcase thrown. This is the third time we are going and the shortest we have traveled, “said a Sampedrano who only identified as Kevin.
That day, after dawn, at 6:00 am, dozens of Hondurans and foreigners were getting ready to travel after canceling service in hotels and hostels in Ocotepeque.
On the border of Corinth, between Cortés and Izabal, the situation is no different. “Many are waiting at night to climb the hills and surround the border. The situation in Honduras is unfortunate.”, Commented the truck driver Ernesto Madrigal.
Others, at midnight, walked but returned home deported from Mexico and the United States; some hoping to get ready to head out north again.
misunderstanding
Istmania Platero, a human rights defender and researcher specializing in migration, said that there has been talk of policies to repress migrants, but there has been no talk of preventive policies.
“Militarization at the borders means that the human right to migrate has ceased to be seen as such. The State of Honduras is singled out as a promoter to leave the country because of corruption and lack of opportunities. The Government it does not make the effort to protect the population or to generate employment, “he added.
Elena Toledo, director of the Eléutera Foundation, said that the request for militarization of the region by the United States is not a measure that will curb migration, on the contrary, will further complicate the scenario.
“It strikes me that Guatemala disregarded this issue when it was seen the reaction they had to stop the caravan passed by militarizing the stretch through which Honduran migrants were going to pass.
Mexico, on the other hand, already came with this militaristic behavior from the Trump administration, “he said.
Toledo added that he agrees that migrating is a right, albeit on a regular, safe and orderly basis; but the questioning should not be, how to stop migrants ?, but, Why don’t they stay in their countries?
“Simply because there is no citizen or legal security and no social mobility to reduce human mobility. There is no support for people or clear rules, no funding for SMEs and job creation, so for these reasons the migration continued the only ones who gain are the coyotes and the traffickers, ”he delimited.
Guadalupe Ruelas, director of Casa Alianza, said that of 18,000 children detained on the U.S. border, from January to March this year, more than 3,000 Honduran minors are counted.
“The issue of militarization is worrisome because repression is expected,” he questioned.