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Thousands of Honduran migrants sought

They forced their way into Guatemala on journey to U.S.

By Andrea Sosa Cabrios, dpa
Published: October 2, 2020, 6:34pm

MEXICO CITY — Guatemalan police on Friday were searching for thousands of undocumented Honduran migrants who forced their way into the country, amid concern about the spread of the coronavirus.

Police were carrying out operations “to prevent the movement of migrants,” the national police force said on Twitter. Nearly 80 people have already been detained.

President Alejandro Giammattei said on Thursday that illegal migrants would be arrested and deported, after about 3,000 Hondurans broke through police cordons or used illegal paths to enter Guatemala.

They were hoping to cross into Mexico and from there to the United States, despite warnings from both countries that they would face major obstacles.

The caravan of migrants fleeing poverty and violence was the first since Guatemala reopened its borders about two weeks ago, after they were closed to stem the spread of the virus.

Giammattei warned the Hondurans could bring more coronavirus infections. “We shall not allow some foreigner who is using illegal means to enter this country to believe that he has the right to come to infect us,” he said.

Mexico also said it would not allow people to enter its territory illegally and that migrants infected with the coronavirus could face penalties for creating a health risk.

The U.S. Embassy in Honduras warned on Thursday that “more than ever, it is more difficult to cross the U.S. border illegally.”

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday linked the migrant caravan to the upcoming U.S. elections, saying it was “very strange” that it had coincided with the campaign.

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