Protestors take to the streets of Mexico to protest Central American migrants
Mexican citizens have taken to the streets to protest the influx of Central American migrants, demanding that government officials take action and “kick them out.”
Thousands of caravan migrants have flooded the border city of Tijuana, Mexico, where they are being housed by the government in immigration shelters.
Frustrated groups of Tijuana residents protested to the influx during marches on Sunday, saying they want to evict the migrants from a shelter that’s housing approximately 2,000 Central Americans.
As the migrant caravans have traveled north through Mexico in their thousands toward the United States Southern Border, they have begun to lose favor with Mexican citizens, who were initially supportive of their campaign.
According to Breitbart, the Tijuana government set up the shelter as the city witnessed a reported buildup of federal and state police forces while the numbers of migrants continue to climb.
In two videos shared online by U.S. journalist Emily Green, dozens of protesters, some wearing wrestling masks and bandanas, can be seen marching towards the makeshift shelter.
Anti migrant protestors headed to shelter where caravan of migrants has set up camp to “kick them out.” pic.twitter.com/vDOlEIMFK0
— Emily Green (@emilytgreen) November 18, 2018
The number of protesters appeared to grow on Sunday as the migrant caravan is starting to lose favor among certain sectors of Mexico’s northern states.
Anti migrant protestors in Tijuana headed to shelter where 2,000-plus Central America. migrants are taking refuge to “kick them out.” pic.twitter.com/iYURtdFlZN
— Emily Green (@emilytgreen) November 18, 2018
Police forces were able to secure the shelter and keep the protesters separated from the migrants, Maya Averbuch reported.
Anti-migrant protesters in Tijuana have now reached a police blockade and are surrounded by members of the media. #caravan pic.twitter.com/gK40SJgAFo
— Maya Averbuch (@mayaaverbuch) November 18, 2018
As Breitbart News reported, tensions escalated in Tijuana where some of the protests have turned violent in recent days.
Law enforcement managed to keep the violence down to minor scuffles and shouting matches.
The migrants are part of a highly publicized caravan that began in mid-October. Organizers claim their ultimate goal was to reach the U.S border to claim asylum.
The caravan led the U.S. government to deploy thousands of troops to border cities where they have been seen placing concertina wire along international bridges and other vulnerable areas along the border.