# Fall 2018 Central America migrant caravan to the US
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [October 22, 2018, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313 "2018-10-22T01:39:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/1 "2018-10-22T01:39:39Z")
By now most Dopers are prolly aware that there’s a huge caravan of migrants coming through Mexico, making their way to the United States in hopes of finding a place where they can make a better life for themselves and their families.
> **[Ragged, growing caravan of migrants resumes march toward US](https://apnews.com/article/immigration-caribbean-ap-top-news-honduras-international-news-b709e05ec83c49e6876ff612141ae942)**
>
> TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) — A growing caravan of Honduran migrants streamed through southern Mexico on Sunday heading toward the United States, after making an end-run around Mexican agents who briefly blocked them at the Guatemalan border.
> [@](#):
>
> A growing caravan of Honduran migrants streamed through southern Mexico on Sunday heading toward the United States, after making an end-run around Mexican agents who briefly blocked them at the Guatemalan border.
>
> They received help at every turn from sympathetic Mexicans who offered food, water and clothing. Hundreds of locals driving pickups, vans and cargo trucks stopped to let them clamber aboard.
>
> Besi Jaqueline Lopez of the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula carried a stuffed polar bear in a winter cap that seemed out of place in the tropical heat. It’s the favorite — and only — toy of her two daughters, 4-year-old Victoria and 3-year-old Elisabeth, who trudged beside her gleaming with sweat.
>
> A business administration graduate, Lopez said she couldn’t find work back home and hopes to reach the United States, but would stay in Mexico if she could find employment here.
>
> “My goal is to find work for a better future for my daughters,” she said.
>
> In dozens of interviews along the journey, they have said they are fleeing widespread violence, poverty and corruption in Honduras. The caravan is unlike previous mass migrations for its unprecedented large numbers, and because it largely began spontaneously through word of mouth.
The current president of the United States has blamed the opposition party for the caravan and has said he will call out the military to stop the people in the caravan from entering the country.
> [@Donald Trump](#):
>
> The Caravans are a disgrace to the Democrat party. Change the immigration laws NOW!
> [@](#):
>
> Trump also repeated: “I will seal off the border before (the migrants) come into this country, and I’ll bring out our military, not our reserves.”
I’m not looking forward to the occurrence itself, but I admit to being curious about the US public response to video footage of an American soldier shooting an unarmed migrant who simply refused to stop walking forward.
Will Trump really roll out a military response to this caravan?
Will Americans care?
Will there be any effect at the ballot box due to the caravan?
What _should_ be done?
What do you think _will_ be done?
---
### Author:  [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/2 "2018-10-22T03:18:11Z")
Why is this in Elections? Can I write in “Honduran refugee caravan” as my choice to fill a local office?
---
### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/3 "2018-10-22T05:19:17Z")
Wonder if there is any polling on this issue. One way or another, candidates will probably be forced to clarify a stance on the migrants - but it remains to be seen whether pro or anti would win more votes.
---
### Author:  [@HeweyLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeweyLogan)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/4 "2018-10-22T05:25:48Z")
> [@Velocity](#):
>
> One way or another, candidates will probably be forced to clarify a stance on the migrants…
And a good thing too.
---
### Author:  [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/5 "2018-10-22T05:30:35Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> By now most Dopers are prolly aware that there’s a huge caravan of migrants coming through Mexico
(post shortened)
It appears that a caravan of illegal aliens have illegally entered Mexico’s southern border. Since this is the Elections forum, should I assume that they are illegally entering Mexico in order to illegally vote in Mexico’s elections at some future time?
---
### Author:  [@HeweyLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeweyLogan)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/6 "2018-10-22T05:39:05Z")
Huh? Even I’m missing your point.
The caravan’s being allowed to move through Mexico because they have the United States as their goal.
The only elections they’ll effect are our owns.
---
### Author:  [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/7 "2018-10-22T05:40:32Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> By now most Dopers are prolly aware that there’s a huge caravan of migrants. . .
You know these groups that travel together always start out big and by the time any of them get to the U.S. border it’s not some huge “caravan” but much fewer people. This is all just more trump-hype for his cult follows to parrot like hysterical toadies. It’s not a crisis. More people from Canada violate their visas in a week than number of this “caravan” that will actually present themselves at the border and ask for asylum.
And the notion that they’re coming here to vote? What kind of an idiot believes that?
---
### Author:  [@HeweyLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeweyLogan)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/8 "2018-10-22T05:45:56Z")
> [@guizot](#):
>
> You know these groups that travel together always start out big and by the time any of them get to the U.S. border it’s not some huge “caravan” but much fewer people. This is all just more trump-hype for his cult follows to parrot like hysterical toadies. It’s not a crisis. More people from Canada violate their visas in a week than number of this “caravan” that will actually present themselves at the border and ask for asylum.
>
> And the notion that they’re coming here to vote? What kind of an idiot believes that?
In other words, unless I’m wrong, 'Who cares. Let ‘em in’?
Are you this lax interpreting the law when it comes to guns?
---
### Author:  [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/9 "2018-10-22T05:53:25Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> … Will Trump really roll out a military response to this caravan? …
Probably not, at least not like you’re envisioning. Perhaps some NG guys / MPs will help flex-cuff some illegal immigrants.
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> … Will Americans care? …
I suspect very few will.
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> … Will there be any effect at the ballot box due to the caravan? …
If groups of unarmed, non-violent illegal immigrants actually start getting shot, the effect would be significant, but I doubt that will happen.
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> … What _should_ be done? …
Arrest them and deport them back to Honduras. Build a wall to keep them out.
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> … What do you think _will_ be done?
Some of them will get in. Some will be deported. There will be much whining from the right about the former and much whining from the left about the latter.
---
### Author:  [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/10 "2018-10-22T06:03:30Z")
> [@HeweyLogan](#):
>
> In other words, unless I’m wrong, 'Who cares. Let ‘em in’?
Just process them according to current laws. As mentioned above, some will be paroled, and some will be deported. It’s not the end of the world.
---
### Author:  [@HeweyLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeweyLogan)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/11 "2018-10-22T06:14:09Z")
Then why this thread?
---
### Author:  [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/12 "2018-10-22T07:06:39Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#):
>
> Why is this in Elections? Can I write in “Honduran refugee caravan” as my choice to fill a local office?
> [@HeweyLogan](#):
>
> Then why this thread?
Elections is the place
> [@](#):
>
> For discussion of elections and electoral politics, including strategy and tactics, political parties, individual races, political news, and politicians and public figures.
In the OP I explicitly quoted the President of the United States saying that he would deploy the military in order to prevent these people from entering the country. The POTUS is a politician; what he says is political news.
As this is taking place shortly before an election and Trump is campaigning for GOP candidates partly on a platform that places a heavy emphasis on immigration policy, news of this is likely to affect how people think and feel about that issue as they cast their votes, IMO.
I would have thought it was obvious that I started the thread because I’m interested a discussion of the situation, with particular focus on what Trump may or may not actually do in a couple of weeks when these folks make it to the US/Mexico border and how that may affect the political climate in the US.
---
### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/13 "2018-10-22T10:27:12Z")
probably means a few more votes for GOP candidates
---
### Author:  [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/14 "2018-10-22T10:52:10Z")
This has all the makings of an October surprise.
If it becomes violent and the Internet overlords allow footage to get out and be dispersed, this could sway the election in favor of the Republicans. Latinos are not a monolithic group. This caravan has been identified an Honduran which may not sit favorably with those who identify as Mexican American.
---
### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/15 "2018-10-22T11:06:52Z")
There is no immigration crisis — don’t believe Trump’s pre-election rhetoric. Attempted and actual migration to the US is at a low point (it peaked 18 years ago). Central Americans fleeing gang violence and poverty are more likely now to move in groups (into Mexico, and the some of them into the US), to avoid being raped, robbed, and abused along the way, so they may be more “visible,” but the overall rate is steady.
---
### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/16 "2018-10-22T11:08:05Z")
Here’s one good source of info: [Who’s Really Crossing the U.S. Border, and Why They’re Coming - Lawfare](https://www.lawfareblog.com/whos-really-crossing-us-border-and-why-theyre-coming)
---
### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/17 "2018-10-22T11:09:12Z")
And here’s another: [As Border Restrictions Tighten, Some Experts See Migrant Caravans Growing In Size : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2018/10/20/659204948/as-border-restrictions-tighten-some-experts-see-migrant-caravans-growing-in-size)?
---
### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/18 "2018-10-22T11:27:52Z")
This is the last thing we need, to give US racists more motivation to get out and vote Republican in two weeks. It’s prompting the usual moronic calls to build a wall. Let’s see now- the migrants have a right under international law to come to a border crossing and apply for asylum. Exactly how would a wall deter that? You just can’t argue with those who are unwilling or unable to comprehend simple facts.
---
### Author:  [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/19 "2018-10-22T11:58:59Z")
Trump and the GOP will milk every last drip drop of this ‘crisis.’ Polemic works to their advantage.
---
### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2018, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/20 "2018-10-22T12:02:53Z")
I should mention that I lived and worked in Mexico, just a few kilometers from its southern border with Guatemala, on and off for eight years. Not that this should necessarily give me extra credibility on the current situation, but I thought It was worth mentioning.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313.md?page=2)