Not surprising Tijuana residents mad at Mexican Gov't over caravan Scholars

The Tijuana anti-caravan protests could have been predicted, Mark Krikorian and Jessica Vaughan from the Centre for Immigration Studies told Sputnik, suggesting that the Mexican government should cooperate with authorities in Tijuana and Baja California and send the migrants back to Central America.

World 10:36 21.11.2018

The protests are not surprising at all, says Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Centre for Immigration Studies, a think-tank in Washington DC, commenting on the anti-immigrant demonstrations in the Mexican city of Tijuana.

"Despite all the happy talk, the caravan received a warm reception in various places in Mexico because everyone knew it was leaving the next day," he told Sputnik. "But Tijuana is the end of the line for many of them, at least for a while, and more are on the way, so it's perfectly natural that the mayor and many residents will resent thousands of foreigners plopping themselves down in their city, filling shelters, camping on the beach, etc."

According to Krikorian, 'there's likely to be more to come'.

On 18 November, hundreds took to the streets of the Mexican border city of Tijuana protesting against the arrival of a 3,000-strong migrant caravan from Central America. The group of demonstrators gathered in front of a statue of the Aztec warrior Cuauhtemoc chanting anti-caravan slogans and denouncing it as an 'invasion'.

Krikorian's colleague, Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Centre for Immigration Studies, shares a similar stance: "It's not surprising that the people of Tijuana are upset about the arrival of thousands of Central Americans who have tramped through their country, apparently in violation of Mexican law, to demand entry into the United States," she said.

"These migrants will have to wait in Tijuana for many weeks if the United States refuses to allow them entry right away," the scholar said.

She highlighted that although "some of the migrants are relatively harmless people hoping to get into the United States for a better life, "some are rowdy and aggressive and disrupting life in Tijuana".

Therefore, there's "no wonder many residents of Tijuana are mad that their government has tolerated this caravan, instead of breaking it up sooner," Vaughan elaborated.

The scholar believes that the Mexican government should cooperate with local authorities in Tijuana and Baja California and return the migrants to Central America.

"At least those who do not qualify for asylum in Mexico, and the US government might be willing to assist in that, as we have done in the past," she opined. "If firm steps are not taken to discourage stunts like this, we will continue to see more and more of them".

Besides, it turned out that the Mexican city was 'ill-prepared to handle this many migrants,' as Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum said, quoted by US President Donald Trump.

Citing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials Fox News reported on 20 November that 6,000 people are waiting to be processed at the San Ysidro border crossing in Tijuana.

However, Mexico's federal government expects the influx of migrants to reach 10,000.

The massive migrant caravan has been heading from Central America to the US-Mexican border since mid-October. It has brought together thousands of migrants, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.

To tackle the massive influx of migrants the Trump administration ordered to dispatch about 5,800 troops to the US border with Mexico.

According to the DHS, more than 500 criminals are travelling with the caravan. Donald Trump earlier warned that the migrant caravan could include members of criminal cartels, stressing that they pose a security threat to the US.

Azerbaijan takes measures to turn Khankandi into safe city - VİDEO

News line

Committee members of the EU Council will visit the South Caucasus region
19:48 28.03.2024
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
19:00 28.03.2024
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
18:33 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan, UN Development Program mull future co-op
18:00 28.03.2024
An Independent Trade Union Established within International Eurasia Press Fund - First in NGO sector - PHOTOS
17:39 28.03.2024
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
17:23 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan lends clarity to color requirement for taxis
17:02 28.03.2024
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
16:45 28.03.2024
Nigerian army eliminates over 200 militants in 2 weeks
16:30 28.03.2024
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
16:15 28.03.2024
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
15:55 28.03.2024
Türkiye plays an important role between Russia and Ukraine - says political scientist Ismail Cingoz
15:45 28.03.2024
2 schoolchildren detained in France on suspicion of sending bomb threats
15:35 28.03.2024
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
15:26 28.03.2024
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
15:15 28.03.2024
Media: US did not transfer all information about terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall to Russia
15:00 28.03.2024
Movement ‘Together’ calls on Armenia’s parliamentary forces to express vote of no confidence in Pashinyan
14:41 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
14:32 28.03.2024
Le Pen accuses French government of fraud
14:22 28.03.2024
Armenian Government Grapples with Internal Division on Village Return Issue - Ishkhan Verdiyan talks on Ednews
14:12 28.03.2024
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
13:41 28.03.2024
Expert Ilyas Huseynov Predicts Peaceful Return of these territories to Azerbaijan
13:20 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
12:55 28.03.2024
Russian MFA concerned about upcoming Armenia-US-EU meeting
12:23 28.03.2024
Secret Points of Pashinyan's Meeting with French Representative: Is Peace Agreement Signing Imminent?
12:00 28.03.2024
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
11:47 28.03.2024
The US-Armenia-EU Joint Conference is a part of the pressure plan on Azerbaijan - MP Konul Nurullayeva
11:30 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
11:23 28.03.2024
CSTO chief: ‘Yerevan doesn’t participate in our work, but there are no statements about suspension’
11:13 28.03.2024
Ammunition found in Khankandi
Ammunition found in Khankandi
11:00 28.03.2024
Russia had been aware of preparation for terrorist attack at Crocus - says intelligience chief
10:46 28.03.2024
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
10:33 28.03.2024
Head of the SSS: France is inciting Armenia to a new war
10:21 28.03.2024
Are we in the brink of World War III? - Pundit talks on Ednews
10:10 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan's National Security: Reflecting on 105 Years of Defending Sovereignty
09:55 28.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev: Rasmussen fell in forgetfulness to attach payment to his report
09:35 28.03.2024
Hand grenades found in Kalbajar
09:25 28.03.2024
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
08:50 28.03.2024
Twitch's biggest streamer diagnosed with cancer diagnosis at 32
23:55 27.03.2024
Azerbaijan's former Minister of National Security passes away
22:41 27.03.2024
Hamısı