USA has been the land of dreams for many, fleeing from prosecution and painful and corrupt governments. It has been the land of freedom and good life. However with increasing immigration through the illegal sectors and increase in crime, USA has brought up a strict approach and has threatened Mexico of heavy tariffs if it doesn’t curtail this. Following such an instruction, Mexico has clamped down on its borders and has detained a total of almost 800 immigrants who were caught crossing the border illegally. Almost half of them are children. A total of 791 Central American migrants, including 368 children under the age of eight, have been detained in the Mexican state of Veracruz, officials said Sunday.
The detentions of the migrants, who were being transported hidden in four trailers, were carried out at two points, the National Migration Institute said in a statement. They have been now sent for questioning and possible solutions are being looked at.
While the total age breakdown of the migrants remains unclear, a source speaking on condition of anonymity earlier on Sunday told AFP 270 of the migrants are six or seven years old, and 98 are aged zero to five. The alarming rate of families crossing such a perilous border with their kids speaks to the socioeconomic situation of the country.
Veracruz is one of the most violent regions of Mexico. Drug trafficking routes to the United States pass through it, and migrants passing through run the risk of being robbed, raped or kidnapped. Crossing it Is fraught with risk , but the risk is taken by many in the hopes of a golden future.
The detentions come during a 45-day period for Mexico to take steps to curb migration, part of an agreement reached with the United States earlier this month to head off tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.Mexico has done a commendable job so far trying to match up to the Trump administration’s promise. Trump has warned that the tariffs will still be on the table if the United States deems Mexico’s progress insufficient after 45 days. While the condition of the immigrants is not known, it is yet to see what steps Mexico will take to curtail this particular problem. The human rights groups are also keeping watch to make sure that none of the immigrants are ill-treated.
