(NewsNation) — Nearly 100 migrants who were part of a larger caravan moving from southern Mexico toward the U.S. southern border are being held in the coastal resort of Acapulco as part of an effort to keep them from crossing into the United States illegally.
The migrants, who were part of a larger group who began traveling from Tapachula, Mexico, were originally traveling toward Juarez, Mexico, which is located just miles from the border and El Paso, Texas. However, as part of an operation known as “Operation Carousel,” government officials are now breaking up migrant groups and are negotiating with them to travel to other Mexican states, sources told NewsNation.
The dissolving of migrant caravans comes just two weeks ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. The effort is being carried out to disperse migrants throughout the country to keep them far from the U.S. border, The Associated Press reported.
The breaking up of the caravans also keeps large groups from accumulating in any one place.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has addressed the issue of deportations prior to Trump’s second term, making a surprising reversal on previous policy promises.
Last month, Sheinbaum said Mexico would push the United States to send non-Mexican deportees to their countries of origin — now, she’s announced that Mexico is open to accepting foreign nationals.
The policy of “dispersion and exhaustion” has moved to the forefront of Mexican government officials’ immigration policy in recent years, according to the AP. Last year, it significantly reduced the number of immigrants reaching the U.S.-Mexico border, a former government official told the AP.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico over the migration of immigrants into the United States illegally.
As part of Operation Carousel, Mexican authorities allow immigrants to walk for days before offering them a bus to various cities. Once there, they are promised to have their immigration status reviewed, the AP reported.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection told NewsNation the agency consistently monitors reports of mass migration to the U.S. southern border and stands ready to address any potential increase in migrant encounters.
President Joe Biden signed an executive order last year geared at securing the border. Under the presidential proclamation and the securing the border rule, noncitizens who cross into the United States without authorization will generally be ineligible for asylum.
Migrants can face significant consequences, including removal from the United States, a five-year bar to return to the U.S., and potential additional criminal penalties that remain on their permanent record for years.
“We are aware of recent reports of a migrant caravan that has materialized in Southern Mexico, as we hear about several times per year,” the CBP spokesperson said. “These reported caravans generally travel very slowly and often splinter before they make progress moving northbound towards the southwest border.
The spokesperson said that the agency will continue to monitor developments in coordination with our foreign and interagency counterparts as we have with previous movements of migrants.”
Although there has been a drop in encounters between illegal immigrants and immigration officials, smugglers and other “bad actors” are continuing to spread false information that disregards the safety of vulnerable migrants, CBP officials said.
“The fact remains: the United States continues to enforce immigration law, and our borders are not open for those without a legal basis to enter the country,” the spokesperson said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
