An immigrant caravan from Honduras has been reported to be moving towards the United States, prompting President Donald Trump to call on the Honduran government to stop it or otherwise face having U.S. aid cut.
“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!” President Trump tweeted Tuesday.
According to the United States Agency for International Development, Honduras received $175 million in aid from the U.S. in fiscal 2017.
The President’s tweet followed Monday reports of the group of 1,600 Hondurans moving north towards the U.S. The caravan formed in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula on Saturday and crossed into Guatemala on Monday, CNN informs. One of the coordinators was detained a day later, but other members of the caravan continued north.
Some of them have told the news outlet that they are escaping poverty and violence in Honduras in search of a better life in the States. They have also been warned by the U.S. Embassy in Honduras that the journey is dangerous and that the United States would enforce its immigration laws.
Mexico’s foreign ministry likewise warned the members of the caravan that they would not be able to enter the country if “requirements to travel to a neighboring country have not been met.”
“To avoid surprises, please inform yourself before starting out,” the ministry added in its statement.
On Monday, the immigrant group was detained at the Guatemalan border for almost two hours, but after refusing to go back, police there let them pass.
President Trump also tweeted on Tuesday, warning Guatemala and El Salvador that “all payments made to them will stop” too if they allow the caravan to pass and eventually enter the U.S. illegally. “Anybody entering the United States illegally will be arrested and detained, prior to being sent back to their country!” he added.
Vice President Mike Pence supported the President, reiterating his message in a tweet Tuesday evening.
Trump has long sought to stop illegal migration, saying migrants bring crime and violence in the country.
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