# Fall 2018 Central America migrant caravan to the US **URL:** \ **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:** 6
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/101 "2018-10-24T05:28:43Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > 1. Again, Trump (or anyone else for that matter) is not saying that these countries should imprison their own people. > > 2. Trump is simply demanding that we get value for our money or else it being cut off. If you could show me that the corrupt governments in those countries are investing every single penny of that money wisely, but damn, they just cannot seem to have a functioning society, then you have something. We have been giving money for years with no results. His words do not support your interpretation. Not even close. > [@](#): > > The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately! [@realDonaldTrump](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1052183647552491521) > [@](#): > > We have today informed the countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador that if they allow their citizens, or others, to journey through their borders and up to the United States, with the intention of entering our country illegally, all payments made to them will STOP (END)! [@realDonaldTrump](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1052368431201341447) He is clearly saying that these countries should stop people from leaving and force those that left to return. He is definitely not even thinking about investing money wisely or results, whatever you mean by that. His words are clear and straightforward. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/102 "2018-10-24T05:46:20Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > His words are clear and straightforward. And consistent. For _years_. One of his few apparent fixed beliefs is that immigration to the USA is a product of foreign governments willfully sending us their problems. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/103 "2018-10-24T07:42:12Z")
I wouldn’t be surprised if Donald Trump suggests that we send the buses down to Mexico and intercept this Caravan, and just take the people back to where they came from. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/104 "2018-10-24T11:02:13Z")
I have a question. Why don’t the Democrats take the wind out of the caravan’s political sails by making statements that it shouldn’t just be allowed to just waltz into the US and that some action should be taken? By not saying anything they’re giving the impression that they’re perfectly fine with it. They can still offer asylum to those who qualify, but the truth is a mass of people shouldn’t just be allowed to break the law while there are people waiting for years to get in legally. I personally don’t care if they come here, but the Democrat’s silence sure does seem to confirm the right’s worst fears about the left. What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/105 "2018-10-24T11:51:23Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > …What am I missing? How long it will take to walk from Honduras to the US border. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/106 "2018-10-24T13:05:17Z")
An unusual publication. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/107 "2018-10-24T14:39:25Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I have a question. Why don’t the Democrats take the wind out of the caravan’s political sails by making statements that it shouldn’t just be allowed to just waltz into the US and that some action should be taken? By not saying anything they’re giving the impression that they’re perfectly fine with it. They can still offer asylum to those who qualify, but the truth is a mass of people shouldn’t just be allowed to break the law while there are people waiting for years to get in legally. I personally don’t care if they come here, but the Democrat’s silence sure does seem to confirm the right’s worst fears about the left. What am I missing? You bring up a good point- it would take some wind out of the Republican sails if the Democratic candidates were to say that while they have all the sympathy in the world for immigrants of all stripes, those immigrants must respect the laws of our country and gain access through legal means- asylum, etc… By staying quiet, or worse, addressing it as a human rights issue, they play right into Republican hands in terms of confirming what they’re accusing Democrats of doing. The real question I suppose is whether or not the undecided voters lean toward a more rule-of-law based handling of illegal immigration, or if they lean toward a more compassion-based handling of illegal immigration. If the Democrats would somehow combine the two, they might win some voters over who weren’t already leaning their way. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/108 "2018-10-24T15:05:12Z")
As someone pointed out on Facebook, this situation is reminiscent of another caravan of wanderers in a hostile desert. Let’s just hope one of them doesn’t part the Gulf of Mexico… …or if he does, let’s hope Trump is dumb enough to emulate the Egyptian army. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/109 "2018-10-24T15:18:05Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > As someone pointed out on Facebook, this situation is reminiscent of another caravan of wanderers in a hostile desert. Let’s just hope one of them doesn’t part the Gulf of Mexico… > > …or if he does, let’s hope Trump is dumb enough to emulate the Egyptian army. 😃 Those folks were of the _Let-My-People-Go_ variety. They wanted to go away. These folks are welcome to a _Please-Go-Away_ response. Possibly with warning shots. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/110 "2018-10-24T15:42:32Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I have a question. Why don’t the Democrats take the wind out of the caravan’s political sails by making statements that it shouldn’t just be allowed to just waltz into the US and that some action should be taken? By not saying anything they’re giving the impression that they’re perfectly fine with it. They can still offer asylum to those who qualify, but the truth is a mass of people shouldn’t just be allowed to break the law while there are people waiting for years to get in legally. I personally don’t care if they come here, but the Democrat’s silence sure does seem to confirm the right’s worst fears about the left. What am I missing? > [@bump](#): > > You bring up a good point- it would take some wind out of the Republican sails if the Democratic candidates were to say that while they have all the sympathy in the world for immigrants of all stripes, those immigrants must respect the laws of our country and gain access through legal means- asylum, etc… > > By staying quiet, or worse, addressing it as a human rights issue, they play right into Republican hands in terms of confirming what they’re accusing Democrats of doing. > > The real question I suppose is whether or not the undecided voters lean toward a more rule-of-law based handling of illegal immigration, or if they lean toward a more compassion-based handling of illegal immigration. > > If the Democrats would somehow combine the two, they might win some voters over who weren’t already leaning their way. So if Democrats don’t refute every single ridiculous accusation that the GOP lobs at them, they’re confirming those accusations as accurate? But if they do refute them, the GOP just calls them liars and continues to lob the same accusations. Then they’ll cite the “lies” as further proof of how right they are in their accusations: “see how low the Democrats are?”, they’ll say. This is part what dealing with crazy people is like and it’s why no one likes dealing with crazy people. Another fun part is how you can’t predict their reaction to anything because, well, they’re crazy. And now the crazy people are running the GOP (and our federal government). ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/111 "2018-10-24T16:11:54Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > Why don’t the Democrats take the wind out of the caravan’s political sails by making statements that it shouldn’t just be allowed to just waltz into the US and that some action should be taken? By not saying anything they’re giving the impression that they’re perfectly fine with it. They can still offer asylum to those who qualify, but the truth is a mass of people shouldn’t just be allowed to break the law while there are people waiting for years to get in legally. Because the Democrats have been spending the last few years calling Republicans racist for taking this position. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/112 "2018-10-24T16:48:04Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > How long it will take to walk from Honduras to the US border. [Google Maps says ~445 hours](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/CA-13,+Guatemala/25.88341,-97.4763652/@23.8964157,-102.7205287,5z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!1m1!1s0x8f66e5ed3542d4a9:0x2c4a4d6d36c49532!2m2!1d-88.3827468!2d15.6004285!1m0!3e2). How many hours a day do you feel like walking? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/113 "2018-10-24T16:54:51Z")
With children? Two. Maybe three. You? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/114 "2018-10-24T17:06:22Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Because the Democrats have been spending the last few years calling Republicans racist for taking this position. No, Democrats (and others) have been spending the last few years calling Republicans racists because they’re racists. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/115 "2018-10-24T17:20:11Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > How long it will take to walk from Honduras to the US border. > [@CaptMurdock](#): > > As someone pointed out on Facebook, this situation is reminiscent of another caravan of wanderers in a hostile desert Forty years, it would seem. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/116 "2018-10-24T17:44:40Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > With children? Two. Maybe three. You? Likewise, not many. I’d be surprised if a caravan of hungry Hondurans of various ages and states of health could cover more than 10 miles a day on foot. Not sure if Mexico is going to bus them or load them up on trains to get them there sooner, but if they’re really walking all the way, I suspect it’ll take them two months or more. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/117 "2018-10-24T18:15:18Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I have a question. Why don’t the Democrats take the wind out of the caravan’s political sails by making statements that it shouldn’t just be allowed to just waltz into the US and that some action should be taken? By not saying anything they’re giving the impression that they’re perfectly fine with it. They can still offer asylum to those who qualify, but the truth is a mass of people shouldn’t just be allowed to break the law while there are people waiting for years to get in legally. I personally don’t care if they come here, but the Democrat’s silence sure does seem to confirm the right’s worst fears about the left. What am I missing? Because there is no indication that the people in the caravan don’t plan on oapplying for asylum at the border, which is perfectly legal. ---
**Author:** ![Brawndo\_with\_Electrolytes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Brawndo\_with\_Electrolytes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brawndo_with_Electrolytes)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/118 "2018-10-24T18:40:43Z")
I read the part about Mexicans helping them in various ways and I keep thinking, they’re not going to receive that kind of treatment in the USA, even if they do get in. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/119 "2018-10-24T19:20:10Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > So if Democrats don’t refute every single ridiculous accusation that the GOP lobs at them, they’re confirming those accusations as accurate? But if they do refute them, the GOP just calls them liars and continues to lob the same accusations. Then they’ll cite the “lies” as further proof of how right they are in their accusations: “see how low the Democrats are?”, they’ll say. > > This is part what dealing with crazy people is like and it’s why no one likes dealing with crazy people. Another fun part is how you can’t predict their reaction to anything because, well, they’re crazy. And now the crazy people are running the GOP (and our federal government). This issue appears to be riling up the Republican base. Republicans are making it look like the Democrats are perfectly ok with this caravan just waltzing right across our borders and settling in the US, and the Democrats aren’t doing much to remedy that claim. I think this is probably off-putting to someone in the center or undecided. Honestly, as much as I sympathize with the migrants and would like to accommodate them, except for cases of asylum, I think they should probably be stopped from entering the US. I don’t like it, but that’s our law. And this is from someone who can’t imagine how bad life must be for these people if they are willing to pick up and leave at a moment’s notice for a land that is hostile to them. I’m all for asylum, but I think the Democrats should at least say something. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313/120 "2018-10-24T19:32:44Z")
Again: should Democrats _have_ to refute every single accusation or, by their silence, be seen as supporting them? And: Republicans lie. All the time, about everything. Why believe them now? This may be riling up the Republican base but anyone else who buys their line I would ask to remind us: how would this march help the Democrats? How would the Democrats demanding that these people be allowed in help the Democrats, even if they were allowed in? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fall-2018-central-america-migrant-caravan-to-the-us/823313.md?page=7)