The Latest: Caravan migrants reject Mexico plan on refuge

[oberliner]

6:45 p.m.

Migrants traveling in a caravan through southern Mexico have rejected a proposal by President Enrique Pena Nieto that they apply for refugee status in the country and obtain benefits.

Coordinators of the caravan read out the president’s plan called “You are at home.” Migrants shouted “Gracias!” but “No, we’re heading north!”

Activist Irineo Mujica of the Pueblo sin Fronteras group is supporting the migrants in the caravan. He told the group that 80 percent of those who apply for protective status would be rejected and deported.

He asked who wanted a dialogue when they arrive in Mexico City, and a sea of hands shot up.

Mujica accused immigration officials of trying to scare them.

The vote took place Friday evening after the caravan arrived in the southern city of Arriaga, Chiapas state.

Mujica said the caravan would be on the move again Saturday at 3 a.m. toward Tapanatepec, about 29 miles (46 kilometers) away in Oaxaca state.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/the-latest-caravan-migrants-reject-mexico-plan-on-refuge/2018/10/26/bd377bc6-d97d-11e8-8384-bcc5492fef49_story.html

[WePurrsevere]

1. So in Mexico, "80 percent of those who apply for protective status would be rejected and deported"

Compared to 100% here if Trump locks things up even more. What's the current rate of rejection and deportation for here? How many more of their children will be separated from their parents?

I understand the desperation and I HATE that we're deporting so many good people, including children, in DIRE need of help but I don't understand why, with Trump being such a bigoted ass, they think they'll get better treatment or odds to be approved here than in Mexico?

[oberliner]

2. As of right now, asylum seekers get a near-automatic entry into the U.S.

They go into detention centers, temporarily, and eventually are placed somewhere within the country and given a court date.

[WePurrsevere]

3. Thank you. It was my understanding that this had been stopped already...

I'm glad to hear that it hasn't... At least as of this moment.

Do you happen to know what the current rate of success is for asylum seekers once their application has been processed by the US?

[oberliner]

4. Bear in mind that Trump is considering changing this

But if he did try to, it would likely be challenged in court. Who knows how that would play out.

I believe last year the asylum success rate was about 30 percent.

[Hortensis]

5. They were questioned when they entered Mexico,

of course, and some applied for refugee status at that time. So no surprise if those who did not had reasons for it, including suspecting they would be rejected and preferring to continue into Mexico. Many were migrating to Mexico anyway, and will eventually go their own ways.

Back in March @300 out of an @1000-strong group assisted by Pueblo sin Fronteras arrived at our border, and most tried to request refugee status, sparking the beginning of the "zero-tolerance" atrocities. Many are still in Mexico, some in the U.S.

Obviously, a lot more are going to arrive at our border this time. Since Pueblo sin Fronteras is in part responsible for its size, just hope they have the skills and connections to help achieve fairly satisfactory conclusions for those who arrive at the U.S. border. That it doesn't degenerate into a calamitous "statement."

[oberliner]

6. I would love for the Democratic Party to get out in front of this issue

And articulate a clear and straightforward statement with regard to what our position is with respect to the border so that we can essentially eliminate this as an issue for Republicans to try to exploit.

[Hortensis]

7. There is NO way to eliminate this issue for Republicans.

Many hard-core conservatives are so passionately committed to spiting minorities that they will sacrifice their own wellbeing to it, and that of their families.

And our Democratic position is emphatically well known to the entire nation and affirmed by every court decision that has shot down the Republicans' evil deeds toward would-be immigrants.

That doesn't mean we don't have strategy, though, one far, far older than this guy's maxim:



In this era, this does not mean don't try to stop atrocities against refugees. It does mean don't get in front of the cameras while they're covering the Republicans as they promise and then execute those atrocities. While we're out of power, secondary only to the courts, coverage of Trump's stream of consciousness and the broken, traitorous Republican congress is our biggest weapon.

[oberliner]

8. That's a good point

We could just let the Republicans look awful on this and hope enough people recognize them for what they are.

[Hortensis]

9. Hopefully they'll appall a few more into going passive,

if not actively opposing what they've become. Sigh. Other places say they're seeing some doubt, but "it's the vote, stupid."

I asked at our local Democratic headquarters yesterday if there was any sign of softening in the Republican electorate, and the answer was a flat no. Didn't ask about any independents, which is where those who've become embarrassed go to hide who they expect to end up voting for. This county is so deep red, though, those might be counted on both hands.