00:00 On December 25, an immense caravan of migrants from Central America, Venezuela, Cuba and
00:10 other nations is advancing through Mexico towards the U.S. border.
00:15 This extraordinary procession, comprising around 6,000 individuals, includes many families
00:20 with young children.
00:22 It highlights the perceived challenges in the joint initiatives of the Biden administration
00:26 and President André Manuel López Obrador's government to address the increasing influx
00:31 of migrants seeking entry into the United States.
00:35 On Christmas Eve, the caravan embarked on its journey from Tapachula, near Mexico's
00:39 southern border with Guatemala.
00:42 This significant movement occurred just days before Secretary of State Antony Blinken's
00:46 planned visit to Mexico City, scheduled for December 27.
00:50 Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security Advisor
00:56 Liz Sherwood-Rondall will accompany Blinken during his visit.
00:59 The U.S. State Department issued a press release stating that Secretary Blinken will engage
01:03 in discussions on the unprecedented irregular migration in the Western Hemisphere.
01:08 The agenda will also encompass strategies for addressing border security challenges,
01:12 including actions aimed at facilitating the reopening of key ports of entry along the
01:16 shared border between Mexico and the United States.
01:20 Despite previous efforts by Mexican authorities to deter such migrations, employing strategies
01:24 where security forces wait for the caravan to tire out, the current caravan's significant
01:29 size suggests a persistent challenge in curbing migrant flows.
01:33 In May, President López Obrador agreed to accept migrants rejected by the U.S., including
01:38 those from Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba, who did not adhere to specific migration rules.
01:43 However, the effectiveness of this agreement in addressing post-pandemic migration seems
01:48 inadequate given the renewed surge in migrant numbers.
01:52 With the U.S. presidential polls approaching early next year, the migrant crisis along
01:55 the country's borders remains a highly debated issue.
01:59 President López Obrador acknowledged U.S. officials' request for Mexico to intensify
02:03 efforts to impede migrants at its southern border.
02:06 In exchange, he emphasized the need for increased U.S. development aid for migrants' home
02:10 nations and the potential easing or removal of sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela.
02:15 [Music]
02:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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