Thousands of migrants from Honduras who are making their way to the United States clashed with Guatemalan troops on Friday.
It’s estimated that over 8,000 migrants made their way into Guatemala but they weren’t met with open arms.
Videos have shown that the massive migrant caravan was met by the Guatemala National Guard and police force.
Take a look:
Guatemala Police and National Civil Police use batons and tear gas on US-bound migrant caravan. pic.twitter.com/4HwzqVTui2
— The Hill (@thehill) January 17, 2021
Guatemala police fire tear gas at US-bound migrant caravan #AFP
📷 @johanordonez #AFP pic.twitter.com/epl05wqw9s— AFP Photo (@AFPphoto) January 17, 2021
Caravan from Honduras busting through Guatemala Border in route to the USApic.twitter.com/ZSdFqGLzxb
— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) January 16, 2021
The New York Post covered the clashes:
Clashes broke out Friday night between migrants and Honduran security forces, as the caravan of illegal travelers attempted to cross the border into Guatemala.
Guatemalan authorities have detained hundreds of Honduran migrants from the caravan including families with young children, though thousands of others were able to breach border security and continue their march northward, Reuters reported.
“We are going to leave the country, to ask for help wherever they receive us,” one migrant told The Associated Press.
Some 6,500 souls are on the move, fleeing poverty and political corruption in the hope of ultimately finding a better life in the United States.
CARAVAN CLASHES: Thousands of migrants have clashed with authorities in Guatemala while attempting to reach the U.S. border, with Mexico deploying National Guard troops in an effort to stop them. @TomLlamasABC reports. https://t.co/YgNs20sUWz pic.twitter.com/qe9USBziTA
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) January 18, 2021
CNN reported on the story too:
An estimated 7,000 to 8,000 US-bound migrants have entered Guatemala from Honduras since Friday, a spokesman for Guatemala’s official immigration agency, Alejandra Mena, told CNN on Saturday.
Thousands of people are joining the US-bound groups to flee a life of poverty and violence. Two devastating hurricanes struck the region late last year, exacerbating the economic strain caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
A video captured by CNN on Saturday showed a large group of people pushing past a cordon of Guatemalan soldiers to gain access to highways traveling to Mexico. Authorities estimated nearly 3,500 people made it pass the cordon.
Video shows migrants break through Guatemala's border security lines today, entering Guatemalan territory through the El Florido Border Post and failing to comply with immigration and health requirements. pic.twitter.com/fQIKZYi7ix
— The Hill (@thehill) January 17, 2021