Migrant caravan heads through Mexico as some anticipate looser US immigration policies after midterms

Hundreds of migrants traveled through southern Mexico Nov. 8, with some saying they were headed to the U.S. and expected President Donald Trump’s immigration policies to weaken following Republican losses in the midterm elections, Reuters reported. 

The group, composed mostly of Hondurans, left Metapa de Domínguez near the Guatemalan border and walked toward Tapachula in Chiapas state, according to Reuters.

“Most of us are heading to the United States, and I think we’re all people who want to work. We’re not going to do anything wrong,” Nicaraguan migrant Alvaro Vanega told Reuters. “[Trump] has called all of us criminals without knowing anyone’s background. But we want to get there to work and contribute to the country, to pay taxes and be able to help our families.” 

CNN also reported Nov. 7 that dozens of Salvadorans departed San Salvador by bus the previous day for Tecún Umán, on the Guatemala-Mexico border, where they planned to join other migrants, including a caravan from Honduras.

The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador said on X Nov. 5 that U.S. immigration laws “remain in effect,” according to an unofficial translation of the Spanish-language post.

“The midterm election results do not represent changes to current immigration policies,” the post said. “The government continues to enforce existing laws and maintains border security as a priority.” 

Separately, Breitbart reported, citing local news reports, that between 300 and 500 migrants crossed the Rodolfo Robles International Bridge from Guatemala into Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, on Nov. 6.

Expectations of a shift in U.S. immigration policy also surfaced before the elections. Breitbart reported that independent journalist Julio Rosas spoke with members of an earlier October caravan who said they hoped Democrats would win the midterms.

According to the outlet, the Department of Homeland Security responded to the October caravan, saying, “There is absolutely ZERO chance this caravan will be allowed into the United States.”