Why Are So Many People Joining Migrant Caravan Heading For US?

A massive caravan consisting of thousands of migrants heading for the United States southern border has gained spotlight in recent days. Thousands of people have already joined the migrant caravan heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Most of the people hail from Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela.

Why are so many people joining the migrant caravan heading for the US? What is the reason behind the migrant caravan? Can this lead to a migrant crisis in the US?

Hundreds leave Tapachula to join migrant caravan

On Sunday, at least 100 people left from the southern Mexican city of Tapachula to join the migrant caravan heading to the United States. The larger migrant caravan, consisting of at least 7,000 people, was stopped north of Tapachula in the town Huixtla. 

Last week, the larger migrant caravan left from Mexico to go to the US. The migrants said that they wanted to request asylum in the US. 

Why are so many people joining the migrant caravan?

Many migrants are fleeing poverty and political instability in their respective countries. They are joining the migrant caravan heading to the US, seeking a better life. 

A migrant woman told the media, “It is good that we accompany each other in the caravan, it seems safer to me.” A record number of people this year have crossed the US border. Caravans have been a regular feature at the US-Mexico border in recent months. Border crossings have increased the number of illegal migrants in the US. U.S. President Joe Biden is under intense pressure to lower the number of people crossing illegally into the U.S. 

World’s deadliest land migration route

In September, the United Nations declared the U.S.-Mexico border as the world’s deadliest land migration route. The UN published a report, titled “US-Mexico border, ‘world’s deadliest’ overland migration route: IOM” to highlight the plight of the migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Last month, the US reopened facility to house unaccompanied migrant children. A former work camp in Carrizo Springs in Texas was opened to house migrant children. 

The authorities provided shelter and food to a group of unaccompanied migrants. The unaccompanied migrant children received essential care at this facility and they were kept at a standard care provider facility.