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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A new migrant caravan of about 1,000 people is reportedly traveling through Mexico en route to the southern United States border.
The group, which left on October 13, is headed from Tapachula, Chiapas, on Mexico's southern border, to Mexico City. Following their arrival, the group is anticipated to disperse and seek various routes to reach the United States.
The migrant caravan, named God Guides Us, includes people from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Central America, Haiti, Argentina, Panama, Costa Rica, Afghanistan, and Nepal, according to La Verdad.
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Immigration is a key motive for voters in the U.S. election this November, with polls suggesting that former president Donald Trump is trusted more than Vice President Kamala Harris on the issue.
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Trump led Harris by 51 points among adults who said immigration was "very important" to them in the Economist/YouGov poll, with 83 percent saying they planned to back Trump compared to just 32 percent who said they would vote for Harris.
Delays with the CBP One app for immigration appointments, high unemployment rates, widespread cartel violence, and economic crises in South and Central America are among the factors fueling the drift toward the U.S.
A CBP spokesperson told Newsweek: "We are aware of recent reports of a migrant caravan that has materialized in Southern Mexico, as we hear about several times per year.
"These reported caravans generally travel very slowly and often splinter before they make progress moving northbound towards the Southwest Border.
"Nevertheless, CBP will continue to monitor developments in coordination with our foreign and interagency counterparts as we have with previous movements of migrants.
"Despite the decline in border encounters in recent months, smugglers and bad actors continue to spread falsehoods and show complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable migrants.
"The fact remains: the U.S. continues to enforce immigration law, and our borders are not open for those without a legal basis to enter the country."
Reacting to the new migrant caravan, Texas Senator Ted Cruz said on his podcast Verdict: "We offer people asylum; to qualify for asylum, you have to demonstrate a credible fear of political persecution.
"I understand why the people come to this country. If you are living in poverty and you get to come to America, these idiots in government are going to give you free everything. Why wouldn't you come?
"They are simply poor, want a better life, and want handouts," Cruz said.
Álvaro Batista, a Colombian migrant traveling with his family, told La Verdad: "What we are doing is nothing illegal, and we want you to facilitate the way for us with the National Guard that can give us support. I would appreciate it. It is better to travel in a group than alone, especially for women and children."
It comes as a majority of Americans back tougher measures on border security.
A slight majority of respondents back former President Donald Trump's border wall policy from 2016, as 53% support expanding the construction of walls along the U.S.-Mexico border, up 13 points since 2019, according to a poll by Gallup.
In July, reports emerged of a separate Migrant caravan making its way through Mexico en route to the southern United States border.
Migrants in the group said they want to cross by November, in case legal routes are closed off to them if Trump wins the presidential election.
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This chart, provided by Statista, shows the number of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border per fiscal year including people attempting to enter the country, turned away at the border or apprehended trying to cross the border without inspection.
Trump has promised stricter border controls and mass deportations if he is elected.
The former Republican president has also pledged to dismantle the CBP One APP that was developed under the Biden-Harris administration to help migrants legally enter the country.
The CBP One app allows asylum seekers and migrants to schedule appointments with border officials.
Migrants who wish to enter the U.S. legally are required to access the CBP One app to request an appointment at a port of entry to the country.
It is the only way, bar a few rare exceptions, to request asylum on the U.S.-Mexico border.
In the statement posted to his Truth Social account in September, Trump said: "We will stop all migrant flights, end all illegal entries, terminate the Kamala phone app for smuggling illegals (CBP One App), revoke deportation immunity, suspend refugee resettlement, and return Kamala's illegal migrants to their home countries (also known as remigration)."
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Update 10/17/24 12:30 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from CBP.
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