Central American migrants endeavor to reach US

Authorities stand behind yellow warning tape along the Rio Grande bank where the bodies of Salvadoran migrant Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez and his nearly 2-year-old daughter Valeria lie on the bank of the Rio Grande on June 24, 2019, in Matamoros, Mexico, after they drowned trying to cross the river to Brownsville, Texas.

Rigoberta Vasquez (r.), mother of sixteen-year-old migrant Carlos Hernandez Vasquez, who died May 20, 2019, at a U.S. Border Patrol holding facility in Weslaco, Texas, mourns with relatives at her house in San Jose El Rodeo village, Cubulco municipality, Baja Verapaz department, northwest of Guatemala City on May 22, 2019. Hernandez become the fifth child to die since December after being apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Authorities said the cause of death was unknown but local news reports said the boy had reported on May 19, 2019, that he was not feeling well and he was seen by a nurse who determined he had the flu.

Tijuana, Mexico, left, and San Diego, Calif, right, are seen on Dec. 22, 2018, separated by the U.S. border fence.

Migrants seeking asylum in the United States check their names on a printed list that’s posted on a board near the international bridge on April 30, 2019, in Matamoros, Mexico. They have been told that U.S. and Mexican authorities decide daily how many people will be allowed to seek asylum. President Donald Trump is proposing charging asylum seekers a fee to process their applications as he continues to try to crack down on the surge of Central American migrants seeking to cross into the U.S.

Shreds of mylar blankets and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicle are seen under the Paso Del Norte International Bridge in El Paso, Texas, on March 31, 2019. Migrants, including young children and babies, seeking asylum were being kept in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporary holding area under the bridge. Some migrants were held there for as many as four days and were forced to sleep outside on gravel, provided only thin mylar blankets for warmth.

Central American migrants settle in a shelter at the Jesus Martinez stadium on Jan. 28, 2019 in Mexico City. Thousands of Central American migrants are waiting for Mexican officials to issue them humanitarian visas, which give them permission to be in Mexico for one year and work legally.

Migrants run as tear gas is thrown by U.S. Border Protection Officers to the Mexican side of the border fence after they climbed the fence to get to San Diego, Calif., from Tijuana, Mexico, on Jan. 1, 2019. Discouraged by the long wait to apply for asylum through official ports of entry, many migrants from recent caravans are choosing to cross the U.S. border wall and hand themselves in to border patrol agents.

A group of Central American migrants walk away from tear gas thrown by the U.S. Border Patrol Officers, after they tried to cross from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego, Calif. as seen from Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico on Jan. 1, 2019. Around 100 Central American migrants made a failed attempt on New Year’s Eve to cross over from Mexico into the United States. As night fell and people on both sides of the frontier prepared to celebrate New Year’s Eve, the migrants tried to cross over but at least two smoke bombs were hurled and the migrants ultimately held back.

A Central American migrant is approached by a U.S. Border Patrol Officer after he jumped over the U.S.-Mexico border fence from Tijuana, Mexico, into the United States on Jan. 1, 2019, as seen from Tijuana.

Central American migrants react in Tijuana, Mexico, on Jan. 1, 2019 after U.S. Border Patrol Officers threw tear gas at them while they were trying to jump over the U.S.-Mexico border fence from Tijuana into the United States.

A Central American migrant escapes from tear gas thrown by the U.S Border Patrol Officers, after they tried to cross from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego, Calif., as seen from Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico on Jan. 1, 2019.

Asylum seekers stand at a bus stop after they were dropped off by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Greyhound bus station in downtown El Paso, Texas late on Dec. 23, 2018. The group of around 200, mostly from Central American, were left without money, food and means of communication. Volunteers from Annunciation House and other local churches came to the aid of as many people as possible, to find a place to house them for the night.

A man climbs up a section of a U.S.-Mexico border wall in Tijuana, Mexico on Dec. 24, 2018. Discouraged by the long wait to apply for asylum through official ports of entry, many Central American migrants from recent caravans are choosing to cross the U.S. border wall and hand themselves over to U.S. border agents.

A Central American migrant girl holds a book as other migrants travelling in a caravan, climb the Mexico-U.S. border fence in an attempt to cross to San Diego County, from Playas de Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico on Dec. 12, 2018. Thousands of Central American migrants have trekked for over a month in the hopes of reaching the United States.

Honduran migrants walk away on Dec. 12, 2018 after failing to cross over the U.S. border wall to San Diego, California, from Playas in Tijuana, Mexico.

A young Honduran migrant waits for his parents to cross over the U.S. border wall after he was squeezed through one of its gaps on Dec. 12, 2018, from Playas de Tijuana, Mexico. The group of Honduran migrants turned themselves in to U.S. Border Patrol agents in order to apply for asylum.

Three migrants in the caravan huddle in the riverbank amid tear gas fired by U.S. agents on the Mexico-U.S. border near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

Migrants run from tear gas launched by U.S. agents after a group of migrants got past Mexican police near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

A Central American migrant is stopped by U.S. agents who order him to go back to the Mexican side of the border near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

Migrants clash with Mexican police at the Mexico-U.S. border after getting past another line of Mexican police near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

Those who reached the border on Nov. 25, 2018 were the first group from the migrant caravan to do so.

A group of Central American migrants climb the border fence between Mexico and the United States, near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

A man lifts a child up at the border fence between Mexico and the United States, near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana on Nov. 25, 2018.

Central American migrants struggle as Mexican Police push against them near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

Central American migrants are stopped by Mexican police forces as they reach the Mexico-U.S. border near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

United States Military personel and Border Patrol agents secure the United States-Mexico border, south of San Diego, on Nov. 25, 2018.

A migrant woman helps carry a handmade U.S. flag up the riverbank at the Mexico-U.S. border near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

A group of Central American migrants cross the nearly-dry riverbed of the Tijuana River in an attempt to get to El Chaparral port of entry, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

A group of Central American migrants run along the dry riverbed of the Tijuana River in an attempt to get to El Chaparral port of entry, in Tijuana, on Nov. 25, 2018.

Central American migrants, mostly from Honduras, line up to register at an employment fair on Nov. 19, 2018 near the U.S-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico. Some migrants from the caravan, currently in Tijuana, are considering staying and working, while others are deciding whether to go forward and claim asylum in the U.S., a long and arduous process. On Nov. 20, 2018, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar blocked President Trump’s order to deny asylum claims to migrants who illegally crossed the southern border.

Guatemalan migrants Karen Vazquez and Edgar Vega embrace before starting on their trip on Nov. 20, 2018 from Mexicali to Tijuana, Mexico.

Thounsands of migrants continued their march towards the US on Oct. 29, 2018. Many took a break the day before.

Migrants wait in line as they arrive into the small town of Santiago Niltepec in Mexico on Oct. 29, 2018.

As the march continued though, the numbers of those participating has dwindled due to heat exhaustation, poor sanitary conditions and the distance left.

Hundreds of Honduran migrants crossed the Suchiate River, running between Guatemala and Mexico, after a security fence on the international bridge was reinforced on Oct. 29, 2018.

A man carries a child as they crossed the Suchiate River, from Tecun Uman in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo in Mexico, after a security fence on the international bridge was reinforced on Oct. 29, 2018.

Migrants form a human chain to cross the Suchiate River, from Tecun Uman in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo in Mexico, after a security fence on the international bridge was reinforced on Oct. 29, 2018.

Those crossing are reportedly part of a new of Honduran migrants trying to cross the Guatemalan border into Mexico, in hopes they will eventually reach the United States.

Mexican authorities talk to migrants after they swam across the Suchiate River, from Tecun Uman in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo in Mexico, after a security fence on the international bridge was reinforced to prevent them from passing through on Oct. 29, 2018.

Migrants hold hands as they make their way across the Suchiate River, from Tecun Uman in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo in Mexico, after a security fence on the international bridge was reinforced on Oct. 29, 2018.

Candles arranged in the shape of a cross serve as a simple memorial for a migrant man who died the day before after he fell from the back of a moving vehicle while traveling with a caravan to the U.S., at the central park in Huixtla, Mexico on Oct. 23, 2018.

A Central American migrant holds his bedroll as the day begins in Huixtla, Mexico on Oct. 23, 2018.

A Honduran migrant brushes his teeth at the main square in Tapachula, Mexico, on October 22, 2018.

Honduran migrants board a truck in Metapa on their way to Tapachula, Mexico on Oct. 22, 2018.

Honduran migrant children read a newspaper as they rest at the main square in Tapachula, Mexico, on Oct. 22, 2018.

Honduran migrants rest at the main square in Tapachula, Mexico on Oct. 22, 2018.

Honduran migrants wait to cross the border from Ciudad Tecun Uman in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico on Oct. 22, 2018.

Honduran migrants wait to cross the border from Ciudad Tecun Uman in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico on Oct. 22, 2018.

Honduran migrants carry their belongings as they wait to cross the border from Ciudad Tecun Uman in Guatemala to Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico on Oct. 22, 2018.

Central American migrants walking to the U.S. start their day departing Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico on Oct. 21, 2018. Despite efforts to stop them at the Guatemala-Mexico border, about 5,000 Central American migrants resumed their advance toward the U.S. border early today in southern Mexico.

Central American migrants walk north toward Tapachula, Mexico with whatever they can carry after departing Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, on Oct. 21, 2018.

Honduras migrants wait to be attended by Mexican migration authorities on a bridge that stretches over the Suchiate River, connecting Guatemala and Mexico, in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, on Oct. 21, 2018.

Honduran migrants heading for the U.S. cross the Suchiate River, the natural border between Guatemala and Mexico, in makeshift rafts, in Ciudad Tecun Uman, Guatemala, on Oct. 21, 2018.

A Honduran migrant looks over the Suchiate River, which separates Mexico, right, and Guatemala, left, as he stands on a bridge covered with drying clothes in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, at sunrise on Oct. 21, 2018, near Mexico’s Ciudad Hidalgo.

A boy cries as he is brought back down after an unsuccessful attempt to lift him over a border fence, in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Earlier in the day, waving Honduran flags and carrying umbrellas to protect against the sun, thousands of migrants arrived at the Guatemalan side of the border with Mexico, demanding they be allowed passage.

A Honduran migrant family is allowed to pass through to safety by Mexican Federal Police in riot gear, at the border crossing in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Central Americans traveling in a mass caravan broke through a Guatemalan border fence and streamed by the thousands toward Mexican territory, defying Mexican authorities’ entreaties for an orderly migration and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of retaliation.

A wounded man is given first aid, after clashes at the border crossing in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Central Americans traveling in a mass caravan broke through a Guatemalan border fence and streamed by the thousands toward Mexican territory, defying Mexican authorities’ entreaties for an orderly migration and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of retaliation.

Men attempt to grab a tear gas canister thrown by the Mexican Federal Police, after Central American migrants rushed the gate at the border crossing in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Central Americans traveling in a mass caravan broke through a Guatemalan border fence and streamed by the thousands toward Mexican territory, defying Mexican authorities’ entreaties for an orderly migration and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of retaliation.

A youth calls for calm as he stands in from of a phalanx of Mexican Federal Police in riot gear, after Central American migrants rushed the gate at the border crossing in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Central Americans traveling in a mass caravan broke through a Guatemalan border fence and streamed by the thousands toward Mexican territory, defying Mexican authorities’ entreaties for an orderly migration and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of retaliation.

Honduran migrants rest at the border between Guatemala and Mexico, in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Members of a 3,000-strong migrant caravan have massed in this Guatemalan border town across the muddy Suchiate River from Mexico, as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens retaliation if they continue toward the United States.

A Honduran migrant family is allowed to pass through to safety by Mexican Federal Police in riot gear, at the border crossing in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Central Americans traveling in a mass caravan broke through a Guatemalan border fence and streamed by the thousands toward Mexican territory, defying Mexican authorities’ entreaties for an orderly migration and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of retaliation.

Thousands of Honduran migrants rush across the border towards Mexico, in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Migrants broke down the gates at the border crossing and began streaming toward a bridge into Mexico. After arriving at the tall, yellow metal fence some clambered atop it and on U.S.-donated military jeeps. Young men began violently tugging on the barrier and finally succeeded in tearing it down.

Thousands of Honduran migrants rush across the border towards Mexico, in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Migrants broke down the gates at the border crossing and began streaming toward a bridge into Mexico. After arriving at the tall, yellow metal fence some clambered atop it and on U.S.-donated military jeeps. Young men began violently tugging on the barrier and finally succeeded in tearing it down.

A child is carried over the border fence as thousands of Honduran migrants rush across the border towards Mexico, in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Migrants broke down the gates at the border crossing and began streaming toward a bridge into Mexico. After arriving at the tall, yellow metal fence some clambered atop it and on U.S.-donated military jeeps. Young men began violently tugging on the barrier and finally succeeded in tearing it down.

A Honduran migrant hold his national flag, climbs the border fence in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. Migrants broke down the gates at the border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico and began streaming toward a bridge into Mexico. The road sign reads in Spanish “Welcome to Mexico.”

Honduran migrants, waving their country’s flag, march in a caravan towards the Guatemala–Honduras border on Oct. 15, 2018 as they flee their homeland for a better life in the United States. A group of roughly 1,600 people joined the caravan since its inception on October 12.

Guatemalan police stand in the road in Esquipulas to block Honduran migrants from making their way through Guatemala and towards the U.S. on Oct. 15, 2018.

An elderly Honduran migrant woman talks with Guatemalan police who temporarily block the road to keep her and her caravan from advancing in Esquipulas, Guatemala on Oct. 15, 2018. While police stopped the migrants for several hours, the travelers refused to turn around and were eventually allowed to pass.

Honduran migrants making their way to the U.S. stand against the Guatemalan police officers blocking their path after crossing the Honduras-Guatemala border without incident on Oct. 15, 2018.

Honduran migrants, eventually allowed to cross through Esquipulas, Guatemala, make their way towards the U.S. on Oct. 15, 2018.

A Honduran mother and child rest where on the road where Guatemalan police block the caravan’s path after they crossed the Honduras-Guatemala border without incident in Esquipulas, Guatemala.

A Honduran migrant rests at the feet of Guatemalan police who temporarily block the road to keep him and his caravan from advancing in Esquipulas, Guatemala on Oct. 15, 2018.

A faint Honduran woman is helped by Guatemalan Red Cross workers while the caravan of Hondurans migrants are blocked at the border that connects to Agua Caliente, Guatemala on Oct. 15, 2018.

Honduran migrants receive free water from Guatemalan police at the Honduran border crossing that connects to Agua Caliente, Guatemala.

Honduran migrants making their way to the U.S. wait for Guatemalan police to let them through cross the Honduran border without incident in Esquipulas, Guatemala on Oct. 15, 2018.