La Caravana Del Diablo by Ada Luisa Trillo
In January of 2020, fleeing violence and poor economic conditions, Hondurans organized a massive migrant caravan that traveled through Guatemala into Mexico. After traveling for 8 days the caravan crossed the Suchiate River into Mexico and were met by the recently established Guardia Nacional composed of former Federal, Military and Naval Police.
Mexican President, Andrés Manual López Obrador has historically called for safe passage for migrants, but when US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs, Mexico reversed its policy and deployed soldiers to keep central American migrants from entering Mexico.
Migrants attempting to enter Mexico split into two major groups. The largest group crossed the Suchiate River and were tear gassed by the Guardia Nacional. Forced to retreat they waited by the river's edge for two days. Their second attempt across the river (at four in the morning) was a success but it was only hours later that the Guardia Nacional surrounded them, put them on busses and sent them back to Honduras.
The smaller group amassed in the border town of El Ceibo in Guatemala and were met by the head of foreign relations in Mexico. He welcomed migrants in groups of 10 to enter Mexico and seek asylum. Migrants were briefly kept in detention centers and against The head of foreign relation word they were deported back to Honduras without given the opportunity to seek asylum.
Trump has effectively barred asylum seekers from entering the US by threatening to impose tariffs and cut foreign aid to Central American countries. The human cost of Trump’s political agenda is denying people their fundamental human rights. For many asylum seekers, deportation will result in living a life of extortion, impoverishment and even death. The full effect of Trump's xenaphobic policies toward immigrants and asylum seekers will no doubt be felt for generations to come.
Ada Luisa Trillo lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
To view more work, please visit www.adatrillo.com or follow @adatrillophotography
Worship, January 2020, Early in the morning in El Ceibo, Guatemala, before starting their journey, migrant men pray in unison that God will grant them safe passage north to the United States. They pray for God to change the hearts of the Mexican and U.S. government leaders. Their first prayer is Our Father.
Crossing the Suchiate River, January 23rd, 2020, Migrants from Honduras cross the Suchiate River, as they pass through Guatemala to Mexico. Two days prior, the Mexican Government tear-gassed a group of 500 migrants who arrived at the Border and attempted to wade across the river into Mexico. Despite the event, the caravan persisted. Out of desperation, they tried crossing the river again. This time they succeeded and pushed forward several miles into Mexico.
Joel Crosses the Suchiate River, January 23rd, 2020, The Migrant Caravan successfully crossed the Suchiate River from Guatemala to Mexico. Having traveled across two countries in eight days, Joel, a Honduran Migrant with one leg, makes his way across the river with crutches, trying to keep up with the caravan.
Second Leg of the Suchiate River, January 23rd, 2020, After numerous pleas to Mexican President Lopez Obrador, to open his heart and open the Mexican border gates, the Mexican government said “No” to hundreds of Central American migrants and asylum seekers who formed the Caravan. So they made their way down to the shallow waters of the Suchiate River, and they walked a few miles into Ciudad Hidalgo. Soon they were surrounded by hundreds of Mexican National Guard troops.
Almost There, January 2020, Chelita clings to her mother amidst the chaos of migrants waiting to be admitted into Mexico. After days of waiting at the Border Julio César Sánchez, The Director-General of Special Affairs for the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Government of Mexico appeared as a representative of the Mexican Government. He began allowing families to enter in small groups after making ambiguous promises that didn't apply to all members of the caravan. He never said what would happen to the families or where they would be taken.
Families Stay Together, January 15th, 2020, Migrant families squeeze onto vehicles to get a ride to the next town on their journey as they leave San Pedro Sula Honduras. Sometimes 2 or 3 families at a time. Unfortunately, it's a dangerous way to travel, as many migrants are reported to fall off these overpacked vehicles and suffer serious injuries.
The Migrant Caravan, January 2020, An estimated 4,000 people left San Pedro Sula on January 15th and walked over 500 kilometers a week. The caravan split into two groups. Eight hundred members traveled to the border of El Ceibo and Tabasco, Mexico, and the larger group went to the border of Tecún Uman and Chiapas, Mexico.
Magritte , 2020Ashley, El Ceibo Guatemala, January, 2020, Ashley is 27 years old and is a trans woman from Honduras. She left her country because her life was in danger. She received many threats on her life and was bullied constantly for being a trans woman. Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the world for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Sophia Resting at the Migrant Camp, January 22 2020, Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Originally from Honduras, Sophia and her brother are both underage, unaccompanied minors, traveling by themselves in the migrant caravan. They eat dinner in an empty lot because there is no space at the migrant shelter, forcing them to sleep outside in self-made tents as they continue their journey towards the US. Seeing as the recruitment age for gang members starts around ten years old, many families prefer to send their children away in a caravan, rather than seeing them potentially join gangs and ending up
José, January 2020, After sleeping in a wasteland by the Guatemala/Mexico border, José, a 6-year-old migrant child traveling with his father from Honduras, is waiting patiently at 3 A.M. to start his journey once more to start his journey across the border into Mexico via the Suchiate River. Two days prior, the Caravan attempted to cross into Mexican territory via the Suchiate River, and the Mexican National Guard carrying semi-automatic rifles mobilized, trying to target the groups and detaining people where they could. There were pushes and struggles to persuade migrants not to cross illegally. Many migrants were apprehended at the river; others like José and his father escaped.
On Their Knees, January 2020, At the border of El Ceibo, Guatemala, a caravan of migrants plead, on their knees, with the Mexican authorities to open the gates to Mexico.
National Guard Troops, January 2020, This is the newly formed Guardia Nacional, established in 2019 and deployed to the border because of Trump's tariffs on Mexican goods. The Marines surrounded the caravan to deter their journey north. They tear gassed migrants- including women and children-as they arrived at the Border.
Ariana Elisabeth, January 2020, Ariana Elisabeth is five months old and the youngest in the Caravan; Her mother and father are escaping life threatening gang activity in Honduras. Next to them is a guard from Guatemala that is protecting the border.
Tear Gassed, January 23rd, 2020, Upon arriving at the Mexican-Guatemalan border, roughly 800 migrants managed to cross into Mexico and walked several miles to Frontera Hidalgo. Upon entering the area, hundreds of troops descended upon the Caravan and forcibly herded people onto buses using tear gas and riot shields. Women and children were caught in the chaos; Many suffered chemical burns and other serious injuries.
On My Way, January 2020, One member of the migrant caravan carries a self made United States flag to demonstrate his enthusiasm to become an American citizen. The conditions in his homeland are so dangerous that he is willing to pick up a new flag and start a new life in a country he doesn’t know and doesn’t want him. This dynamic produces a mixture of desperation and hope that won't be dissuaded by tear gas and riot shields.