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Scapegoated by Trump, Central American Migrants Turn to Mexico
IN PICTURES: Irrespective of struggles in Mexico and the hard journey north, all of the migrants were certain they did not want to return home.

Cradling her newborn son in a steamy migrant shelter near the Guatemalan border, Concepcion Bautista says she still plans to reach the United States, but will linger in Mexico to see how U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies play out.

Bautista fled Guatemala after gang members threatened to kill her and seized her home, demanding money to give it back.

Her ultimate goal is to reunite with her father and two sons up north, but for the time being, she believes applying for asylum in Mexico is smarter than trying to break into Trump's United States.

"I'm not going back to Guatemala," the 39-year-old said at the shelter in the southern Mexican city of Tenosique. "I have faith that we'll be able to cross but for now, at least, I'm staying in Mexico."

Mexican asylum data and testimony from migrants in Tenosique suggest that although fewer Central Americans are trying to enter the United States, plenty are still fleeing their poor, violent home countries, with many deciding to stay longer in Mexico, which has traditionally been a transit country.

Between Trump's election in November and March, 5421 people applied for asylum in Mexico, up from 2148 people in the same period a year earlier, Mexican government data shows.

Samuel, who used a pseudonym, was threatened with death after gangs kidnapped and murdered his 19-year-old son in El Salvador, prompting him to plan a move with his family to the United States. Trump's election changed everything.

"I wanted to go to the United States with my family, but we've seen that the new government there has made things harder," said Samuel.

"For the time being, we want to stay here in Mexico, and we've already applied for refugee status."

Asylum applications in Mexico rose steadily in recent years as the flow of people leaving Central America increased. But in 2016, as Trump campaigned on a tough anti-immigration platform, applicants jumped to 8,781, up from just under 3,500 in 2015. Mexico's refugee agency COMAR predicts it could receive more than 22,500 asylum applications in 2017.

Despite their concerns, some Central Americans are undeterred and have decided to try their luck at entering the United States.

Irrespective of struggles in Mexico and the hard journey north, all of the migrants were certain they did not want to return home.

"Only death awaits me there," said Samuel.

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A woman from El Salvador, 40, who didn't want to be identified and who is hoping to get refugee status in Mexico, poses for a photograph with her children at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017.
A woman from El Salvador, 40, who didn't want to be identified and who is hoping to get refugee status in Mexico, poses for a photograph with her children at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017. "I left our home in El Salvador because of violence. I already lost one of my children in a shootout. I just want to live in peace with my children in Mexico or in the United States," she said. Photo:Reuters
Edith Torres, 18, from Honduras poses for a photograph with her newborn baby at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017.
Edith Torres, 18, from Honduras poses for a photograph with her newborn baby at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017. "I left Honduras for a better future whether it's in Mexico or in the United States. In Honduras it's very difficult," Torres said. Photo:Reuters
Ale, 34, from Guatemala poses for a photograph with her children, Luis (L) and Maria at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017.
Ale, 34, from Guatemala poses for a photograph with her children, Luis (L) and Maria at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017. "We had a small business in Guatemala and gang members used to extort us. We would like to start over in Mexico or in the United States," said Ale. Photo:Reuters
A woman from Honduras who didn't want to be identified and who is hoping to get refugee status in Mexico, poses for a photograph with her children at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017.
A woman from Honduras who didn't want to be identified and who is hoping to get refugee status in Mexico, poses for a photograph with her children at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017. "I left Honduras because of violence and extortion from gang members," she said. Photo:Reuters
Guatemalans wait to cross into Mexico at the border between Mexico and Guatemala on the outskirts of Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico.
Guatemalans wait to cross into Mexico at the border between Mexico and Guatemala on the outskirts of Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico. Photo:Reuters
Guatemalans wait to cross into Mexico at the border between Mexico and Guatemala on the outskirts of Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico.
Guatemalans wait to cross into Mexico at the border between Mexico and Guatemala on the outskirts of Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico. Photo:Reuters
Mobile phones are seen at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 10, 2017.
Mobile phones are seen at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 10, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Edith Torres, 18, from Honduras stands with her newborn baby at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico April 12, 2017.
Edith Torres, 18, from Honduras stands with her newborn baby at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico April 12, 2017. "I left Honduras for a better future whether it's in Mexico or in the United States. In Honduras it's very difficult," Torres said. Photo:Reuters
Mobile phones are seen at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 10, 2017.
Mobile phones are seen at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 10, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Welquin Rivera, 34, from Honduras talks on a mobile phone at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico April 10, 2017. Rivera was deported from the United States back to his homeland four moths ago. Now he is trying to go back to the States to be reunited with his four children.
Welquin Rivera, 34, from Honduras talks on a mobile phone at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico April 10, 2017. Rivera was deported from the United States back to his homeland four moths ago. Now he is trying to go back to the States to be reunited with his four children. Photo:Reuters
Migrants from Central America eat inside a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017.
Migrants from Central America eat inside a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017. Photo:Reuters
A pair of shoes lie on railway tracks in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 11, 2017.
A pair of shoes lie on railway tracks in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 11, 2017. Photo:Reuters
A woman from Honduras, 19, who is pregnant and who didn't want to be identified, poses for a photograph at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017.
A woman from Honduras, 19, who is pregnant and who didn't want to be identified, poses for a photograph at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 12, 2017. "I have three children back home in Honduras. I was part of a gang. I don't want that anymore, I got shot once in the leg. It's very dangerous to live there. I would like to go to the United States and take my children with me," she said. Photo:Reuters
Concepcion Bautista, 39, from Guatemala poses for a photograph with her newborn baby and her son at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico. Bautista fled Guatemala after gang members threatened to kill her and seized her home, demanding money to give it back. Her ultimate goal is to reunite with her father and two sons up north, but for the time being, she believes applying for asylum in Mexico is smarter than trying to break into Trump's United States.
Concepcion Bautista, 39, from Guatemala poses for a photograph with her newborn baby and her son at a migrant shelter, known as The 72, in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico. Bautista fled Guatemala after gang members threatened to kill her and seized her home, demanding money to give it back. Her ultimate goal is to reunite with her father and two sons up north, but for the time being, she believes applying for asylum in Mexico is smarter than trying to break into Trump's United States. "I'm not going back to Guatemala," she said. "I have faith that we'll be able to cross but for now, at least, I'm staying in Mexico." Photo:Reuters
Vehicles cross railway tracks in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 13, 2017.
Vehicles cross railway tracks in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico, April 13, 2017. Photo:Reuters
Published 5 May 2017
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