Caravan of 3,000 migrants including some carrying 'Biden for all' banners push past outnumbered Mexican police as they storm towards the US border

  • A group of 3,000 migrants from Haiti, South America, and Central America pushed past Mexican border agents and police on Saturday 
  • The massive caravan set out from the city of Tapachula near the Guatemala border toward Mexico City
  • A highway checkpoint in Tapachula with 400 law enforcement officers aimed to block their path, but many migrants managed to break past 
  • The caravan said they hoped to eventually reach the US border, where the number of migrants trying to gain entry was already hitting new records 
  • According to the US Customs and Border Protection, more than 1.7 million migrants have been arrested at the US-Mexico border this fiscal year 

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A caravan with thousands of migrants is making its way from Tapachula, Mexico, to the US border, and Mexican officers struggled and ultimately failed to stop them on Saturday.

Around 3,000 migrants trying to pass north through Mexico said they hoped to eventually reach the US border, where the number of migrants trying to gain entry was already hitting new records.

Families from Haiti, South America, and Central America pushed past and tossed apart police with anti-riot gear and shields who had been moved in anticipation to break up the hordes of people.

'We are going to resist. We are going to resist peacefully. We are not going for confrontation, we are going in the name of God and peacefully. What we want is to receive attention regarding the administrative immigration paperwork according to law,' said one of the caravan leaders. 

The crowd carried American flags and banners supporting president Biden with messages such as 'Biden For All,' FOX News reported. 

A caravan of migrants, most from Central America, break through a Mexican police barricade in Tapachula, Mexico

A caravan of migrants, most from Central America, break through a Mexican police barricade in Tapachula, Mexico

Migrants clash with National Guard members as they walk in a caravan heading to Mexico City

Migrants clash with National Guard members as they walk in a caravan heading to Mexico City

Migrants are seen surging past police officers in a video shot in Mexico. The cops appeared to be outnumbered

Migrants are seen surging past police officers in a video shot in Mexico. The cops appeared to be outnumbered

Migrants from Central America and Haiti clash with National Guard members as they walk in a caravan

Migrants from Central America and Haiti clash with National Guard members as they walk in a caravan

Migrants from Central America and Haiti hold a banner that reads "Migrants. Peace and justice" as they walk in a caravan headed to the Mexican capital

Migrants from Central America and Haiti hold a banner that reads "Migrants. Peace and justice" as they walk in a caravan headed to the Mexican capital

Around 3,000 migrants trying to pass north through Mexico said they hoped to eventually reach the US border, where the number of migrants trying to gain entry was already hitting new records

Around 3,000 migrants trying to pass north through Mexico said they hoped to eventually reach the US border, where the number of migrants trying to gain entry was already hitting new records

The massive crowd carried American flags and banners supporting president Biden with messages such as 'Biden For All,' as they have said they hope to reach the US border

The massive crowd carried American flags and banners supporting president Biden with messages such as 'Biden For All,' as they have said they hope to reach the US border 

A caravan with 3,000 migrants set out from Tapachula, near the Mexican border with Guatemala, and is headed north to Mexico City, where they then plan to go to the US border and entry the country

A caravan with 3,000 migrants set out from Tapachula, near the Mexican border with Guatemala, and is headed north to Mexico City, where they then plan to go to the US border and entry the country 

According to the outlet, the caravan is highly organized, as assemblers arranged for migrants to register through a QR code online.

A previous caravan, also set out from Tapachula, was broken up by Mexican border patrol agents in early September. The group of about 800 - largely Central Americans, Haitians, Venezuelans, and Cubans - were subject to violent treatment by officials, the National Migration Institute said.

On Saturday, a massive group, including families with young children, began trekking on foot from the city of Tapachula near the Guatemala border toward Mexico City. 

This time, Mexican police and border patrol agents were unable to contain the crowd.

A highway checkpoint in Tapachula with 400 law enforcement officers aimed to block their path, but many migrants managed to break past. Footage showed people carrying backpacks and with children on their shoulders pushing through a cluster of officers in anti-riot gear.

A caravan of migrants, heading north, stop to rest in the Alvaro Obregon community, Tapachula municipality, Chiapas state, Mexico

A caravan of migrants, heading north, stop to rest in the Alvaro Obregon community, Tapachula municipality, Chiapas state, Mexico

A previous caravan, also set out from Tapachula, was broken up by Mexican border patrol agents in early September

 A previous caravan, also set out from Tapachula, was broken up by Mexican border patrol agents in early September

On Saturday, a massive group, including families with young children, began trekking on foot from the city of Tapachula near the Guatemala border toward Mexico City

On Saturday, a massive group, including families with young children, began trekking on foot from the city of Tapachula near the Guatemala border toward Mexico City

One family, including a woman and small children, were knocked to the ground in the crush of people, their belongings scattering.

One of the caravan's organizers, Irineo Mujica, said he was leading the group to Mexico City in protest of the lack of government assistance in the south, where officials have attempted to contain thousands of migrants and to demand legal documents that would let migrants move freely in the US.

'Money is not going to solve the problem, throwing it to governments like Mexico where they put people from the south border to the northern border is not the solution,' Mujica said. 'They should give them papers here, they should give them the opportunity to work here.'

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is continuing to struggle with a surge in border crossings since the president came into office and reversed many Trump-era policies.

US authorities arrested more than 1.7 million migrants at the US-Mexico border this fiscal year, the most ever recorded

US authorities arrested more than 1.7 million migrants at the US-Mexico border this fiscal year, the most ever recorded

Many families with young children are part of the caravan, which could not be contained by Mexico border patrol agents

Many families with young children are part of the caravan, which could not be contained by Mexico border patrol agents 

Roughly 55,000 of 77,000 asylum-seekers in Mexico are awaiting processing at facilities in the city, and many have complained about unsanitary conditions

Roughly 55,000 of 77,000 asylum-seekers in Mexico are awaiting processing at facilities in the city, and many have complained about unsanitary conditions

The Biden administration is continuing to struggle with a surge in border crossings since the president came into office and reversed many Trump-era policies

The Biden administration is continuing to struggle with a surge in border crossings since the president came into office and reversed many Trump-era policies

A migrant from Central America holds a teddy bear as she walks in a caravan headed to the Mexican capital to apply for asylum and refugee status

A migrant from Central America holds a teddy bear as she walks in a caravan headed to the Mexican capital to apply for asylum and refugee status

Migrant arrests have soared to 20-year highs in 2021.

Data released by US Customs and Border Protection reported a peak during the summer, with more than 213,000 incidents in July alone. A slight decrease was recorded in September with 192,000 incidents.

Roughly 55,000 of 77,000 asylum-seekers in Mexico are awaiting processing at facilities in the city, and many have complained about unsanitary conditions.

Data obtained by the Washington Post shows that the US detained more than 1.7 million migrants along the US-Mexico border between October 2020 and September 2021 - the highest number since 1986. 

The Biden administration said in August that it aimed to hire an additional 1,000 asylum officers and another 1,000 support staff. The hiring spree would more than double the current crop of about 800 asylum officers and would be funded either by Congress or immigration application fee hikes.

In August, a divided Supreme Court ordered the Biden administration to reinstate the Trump-era policy, called Migrant Protection Protocols and better known as 'Remain in Mexico.'

Data released by US Customs and Border Protection reported a peak during the summer, with more than 213,000 incidents in July alone. A slight decrease was recorded in September with 192,00 incidents

Data released by US Customs and Border Protection reported a peak during the summer, with more than 213,000 incidents in July alone. A slight decrease was recorded in September with 192,00 incidents

Mexican National Guard officers walk in a formation as they prepare to form a barricade to prevent a caravan of migrants, most from Central America, from continuing their journey

Mexican National Guard officers walk in a formation as they prepare to form a barricade to prevent a caravan of migrants, most from Central America, from continuing their journey

'Money is not going to solve the problem, throwing it to governments like Mexico where they put people from the south border to the northern border is not the solution,' said Irineo Mujica, who is leading the caravan to Mexico City

'Money is not going to solve the problem, throwing it to governments like Mexico where they put people from the south border to the northern border is not the solution,' said Irineo Mujica, who is leading the caravan to Mexico City 

A migrant caravan made up of approximately 3,000 people, called March for Freedom, Dignity and La Paz, managed to break the first police siege of the National Institute of Migration

A migrant caravan made up of approximately 3,000 people, called March for Freedom, Dignity and La Paz, managed to break the first police siege of the National Institute of Migration

Per its name, the legislation forces migrants to wait for months south of the border as their asylum claims are processed. The court intervened after the Biden administration halted the policy shortly after the president's inauguration. 

On Thursday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended Biden and said that while he had not visited the border recently, he 'had been there before' and knew current immigration issues 'well.' 

'There's been reporting that he did drive through the border when he was on the campaign trail in 2008,' Psaki said. 'And he is certainly familiar with the fact... that in El Paso the border goes right through the center of town.' 

US authorities arrested more than 1.7 million migrants at the US-Mexico border this fiscal year, the most ever recorded.  

On Thursday at a CNN town hall, Biden said he 'guesses' he should check out the southern border for himself.

Asked by Anderson Cooper if he should go down to the border amid record crossings and condemnation of his strategy to tackle illegal immigration, Biden said: 'I've been there befor ... I know it well... I guess I should go down.'

On Thursday at a CNN town hall, Biden said he 'guesses' he should check out the southern border for himself.
Asked by host Anderson Cooper if he should go down to the border, Biden said: 'I've been there before ... I know it well ... I guess I should go down.'

On Thursday at a CNN town hall, Biden said he 'guesses' he should check out the southern border for himself. 

He cited recent hurricanes and world travel as reasons why he hasn't had 'a whole hell of a lot of time to get down.

'I’ve been spending time going around looking at the $900 billion worth of damage done by hurricanes and floods and weather and traveling around the world. 

'My wife Jill has been down. She's been on both sides of the river. She's seen the circumstances there. She's looked into those places. You notice you're not seeing a lot of pictures of kids lying on top of one another with what looks like tarps on top of them. We've been able to deal with that. 

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