A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security says the agency has confirmed criminals, gang members and other bad hombres are part of the migrant caravan making its way toward the US border through Mexico.
In addition to Hondurans, DHS Press Secretary Tyler Q. Houlton on Tuesday admitted the agency has been tracking criminals within the 14,000-person caravan which stormed the Mexico-Guatemala border last week.
“.@DHSgov can confirm that there are individuals within the caravan who are gang members or have significant criminal histories,” Houlton wrote on Twitter.
.@DHSgov can confirm that there are individuals within the caravan who are gang members or have significant criminal histories.
— Tyler Q. Houlton (@SpoxDHS) October 23, 2018
“Citizens of countries outside Central America, including countries in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and elsewhere are currently traveling through Mexico toward the U.S.”
Citizens of countries outside Central America, including countries in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and elsewhere are currently traveling through Mexico toward the U.S.
— Tyler Q. Houlton (@SpoxDHS) October 23, 2018
Stopping the caravan is not just about national security or preventing crime, it is also about national sovereignty and the rule of law. Those who seek to come to America must do so the right and legal way.
— Tyler Q. Houlton (@SpoxDHS) October 23, 2018
“Stopping the caravan is not just about national security or preventing crime, it is also about national sovereignty and the rule of law,” Houlton added. “Those who seek to come to America must do so the right and legal way.”
The DHS spokesperson’s admission bolsters President Trump’s Tuesday assertions that criminals and others are mixed into the caravan.
“Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy. Must change laws!” Trump tweeted on Monday.
Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy. Must change laws!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws! Remember the Midterms! So unfair to those who come in legally.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
Speaking with Fox News on Wednesday, reporter Sara Carter noted that “Some of the people within the caravan were actually tattooed with MS-13 markings.”
“It wasn’t the majority of people, though, but what I can tell you is the majority of people that were in the caravan and the people I interviewed on the ground there were men,” Carter added.
Additionally, a member of the caravan being interviewed also admitted there were criminals within the group, albeit “not that many.”
Migrant admits: There's "criminals everywhere" in the caravan, "it’s criminals in here." pic.twitter.com/RLICY0MNja
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) October 24, 2018
In the days after Trump made the allegations, several mainstream media reporters, including NBC’s Chuck Todd and Univision’s Jorge Ramos, claimed he was lying.
“Jorge, the president’s claim, which he admits he has no proof of… that there are people from the Middle East… in this caravan… Have you seen anything to back up those claims? Have you seen any Middle Easterners?” CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked Ramos earlier this week.
“Absolutely not and I think President Trump needs to tell the truth to the American people. He just wants to create fear and that’s not the truth.”
On Thursday, President Trump reached out to the caravan, telling them to turn around and go back home, from which they can apply for US citizenship legally.
To those in the Caravan, turnaround, we are not letting people into the United States illegally. Go back to your Country and if you want, apply for citizenship like millions of others are doing!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2018
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