I wanted to reflect on a few things that many people are talking about. First, I finally got my absentee ballot and I voted! My first election! That was just a super exciting thing I go to do this week. Speaking of the election, in Thursday's class, we touched on the migrant caravan and what it means for national security and the election. Does the caravan pose a threat to national security or is it just a way for Trump to fire up his base leading up to the midterms?
Basically the caravan consists of thousands of Central American migrants that entered Mexico from Honduras and Guatemala last week and are still traveling towards the United States despite threats from the Mexican and US governments. They still have nearly 1,000 miles to go until they reach the US border. They're coming because they need jobs, they wish to escape hate and persecution, and they have family in the US. Just like most migrants from Central and South America, work is hard to come by, and the migrants have families to support as many are traveling with children. The US offers a place for refuge and opportunity to improve their lives and that of their families. A large majority of the migrants are from Honduras, a country with a failing and corrupt government that steals land from their people. The migrants joined the caravan because of hate and persecution in Honduras and other Central American countries. Most people have no money. Many people have given up and have decided to return home or stay in Mexico. They walk 15-20 miles a day in torn shoes, scorching weather, and torrential downpour. The migrants are also subject to constant crime and gang activity. Because of these difficult conditions, a report from the Mexican government says that the caravan has been reduced from nearly 7,000 to 3,600 contrary to caravan organizer reports, claiming their numbers are growing. After a vote, participants of the group decided to march toward Mexico's Oaxaca state instead of crossing to the eastern part of the country. From there, organizers claim, they'll travel to Mexico City. Once they arrive, the caravan hopes to demonstrate for amended immigration laws that allow migrant prosperity and economic opportunity. Right now the closest border crossing to this caravan would be between Matamoros, Mexico, and Brownsville, Texas, but heading that way is considered a more dangerous route. The group crossed into Mexico a week ago, nearly a week after the caravan formed in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. What about these people screams national security threat? My question is: how does a group of unarmed people with children pose a threat to national security? Apparently a group of now 3,600 migrants warrants a plan to deploy 5,000 troops to the caravans supposed entry point in Texas. In my opinion, this is where the Trump administration has cried 'national security' at the smallest of threats. A group of unarmed asylum seekers traveling with children for a better life does not constitute 5,000 troops at the border. At this point, they are still thousands of miles from the border and we don't even know if they will make it to the US. Additionally, Trump's Twitter rants continue to demonize the migrants as "invaders", "terrorists", and "bad people". The caravan migrants are said to be seeking asylum, which is a legal form of seeking refuge. But according to Trump's administration, our borders are closed for business. I think that the Trump administration is a threat to our national security because of the lack of compassion and constant demonization of Central/Southern American people. Central-North American political conflict is bound to arise from this difficult situation.
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AuthorI'm Hannah Andress from Atlanta, GA! I am an SIS major and I am on the Women's Swim Team. I am interested in national security, policy making, and the Middle East as my country of interest! Archives
December 2018
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