The Mexican government is attempting to clear out one of the tent encampments in Matamoros where more than 1,500 asylum seekers have been living for months.
These families are waiting for their immigration court cases to move forward in the U.S. under President Trump's .
The Mexican government has tried to get people out of the encampment for months. Most recently, officials hope migrants will move under new, tent-like structures that were just built nearby.
And last month a Mexican official with the federal child welfare agency came to the camp and . The official said if they didn鈥檛 move to a that was a 30-minute walk from the International Bridge, children could be sent back to their home countries.
This weekend dozens of Mexican immigration officials, federal police and National Guard were scattered throughout the encampment.
Enrique Maciel, a regional delegate for , spoke to a group of migrants about the new government structure he wants them to move to by the Rio Grande.
鈥淵ou, or anyone else, can鈥檛 tell me that it鈥檚 more comfortable to be outside, than at the minimum be under a tall tent where you鈥檙e going to have a lot of benefits,鈥� Maciel told a group of migrants who stood around him. 鈥淭he groups from the Rio Grande Valley, the ones that come to help, will continue to help in the tent.鈥�
Some migrants are hesitant to cooperate with Mexican officials.
鈥淚t is not an obligation,鈥� Maciel said. 鈥淚t is recommended, it鈥檚 healthy, for the benefit of your families to go to a place more hygienic.鈥�
Melissa is from Honduras and was in the crowd where Maciel and other Mexican officials spoke.
鈥淭hey got here about an hour ago saying it would be voluntary, but if we didn鈥檛 move voluntarily, then they would come to move us,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey told us yesterday that they wouldn鈥檛 bring so much law enforcement, but if you look around it鈥檚 like we were in Iraq and a bombardment is about to begin.鈥�
Melissa said she鈥檚 not going to move from the area, but others at a different part of the encampment have started moving their tents. Melissa said it鈥檚 because those migrants are new and have recently arrived.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e trying to scare and pressure them. But we who have been here for months, trust me, the pressure, the fear, I don鈥檛 suffer from it anymore,鈥� Melissa said.
Two teenage boys in the encampment gathered their belongings, then started picking up their tent. On top of their tent was a black trash bag that helps provide further protection from the elements.
The boys made their way up some steps that lead to an area where the new government tent structures are. One of the boys said they moved their tent because the officials were kicking them out of the area where they were at.
Dozens of families have also now moved their tents under the tall government carps.
Some families under this tent worry about future rainfall because it鈥檚 in a low lying area on dirt without any proper drainage. They also had concerns about whether, or not, they鈥檇 be able to come and go as they please whenever they want.
One man, who didn鈥檛 want his name used because he fears speaking will put him in danger, said he was also told if he didn鈥檛 move, he would be forced to.
鈥淭o avoid any types of problems we decided to come,鈥� said the man.
A woman, who also didn鈥檛 want her name being used, is now neighbors with the man under the government tent said she was told the same thing and that this doesn鈥檛 feel optional.
鈥淭here are federal police, there鈥檚 all types of police, it鈥檚 not that you want, it鈥檚 that you have to move,鈥� said the woman. 鈥淚f you look up, immigration, they all have cameras and so we feel intimidated.鈥�
All asylum seekers TPR spoke with said officials told them at first the move is optional, but if they chose not to go, then they would be forced to.
Mexican government officials admit everyone might not fit under the new tents and continue to say this move is optional.
Reynaldo Lea帽os Jr. can be reached at Reynaldo@TPR.org and on Twitter at
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