Dozens of Central American migrants began traveling toward the United States on Election Day, hoping Democratic victories would weaken President Donald Trump’s immigration restrictions despite warnings from federal authorities that unauthorized entry would remain prohibited.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — A new caravan of migrants departed northern Honduras on Tuesday, Nov. 3, heading toward the United States as Americans voted in midterm elections that ultimately handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
Dozens of Hondurans, including families with young children, began their journey from San Pedro Sula carrying backpacks and pulling luggage. Several participants said they deliberately timed their departure to coincide with the elections, hoping Republican losses would create an opportunity to enter the United States under less restrictive immigration policies.
WATCH:
<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"> </span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"> </span><br>
According to Agence France-Presse reporting published Wednesday, the group represents the third caravan to leave Honduras since September, with previous groups attracting migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Mexico.
“Trump is on his way out in these elections. That’s why we’re taking the risk. Here in Honduras, we have nothing left,” said Jimena Morazán, 47, who was traveling with five family members.
Morazán made the remarks before the election results were known. Although Democrats subsequently won congressional majorities, Trump remains president through January 2029, and the election does not automatically change federal immigration enforcement policies.
The departing migrants expressed hope that Democratic control of Congress would constrain Trump’s immigration agenda or increase pressure for changes to asylum and border enforcement procedures.
Among them was Jesús Carías, 30, who was traveling with his wife and three young children. Carías said he learned about the caravan through social media and decided to join despite the uncertainty and dangers associated with the journey.
“We found out on social media that a caravan was leaving, and I decided to go with my family,” Carías said, acknowledging that the trip would be difficult.
“We’re putting ourselves in God’s hands and will see what they decide over there,” he added.
Carías said the journey would mark his fourth attempt to enter the United States.
Another participant, Beverly Medina, 39, was traveling with her 3-year-old daughter. She said the American election was an important consideration in deciding when to leave.
“While they’re going through the election process, we’ll be on our way. We have faith that we’ll arrive while they’re busy with that,” Medina said.
The caravan departed amid difficult economic and security conditions in Honduras, where approximately 61% of the country’s 11.2 million residents live in poverty, according to official figures cited by AFP.
The country’s homicide rate stands at approximately 24 killings per 100,000 residents, roughly three times the global average. Poverty, violence and limited employment opportunities continue to contribute to migration from Honduras and neighboring Central American countries.
The latest departure follows other migrant groups already traveling through southern Mexico.
According to the Latin Times, the timing of the new caravan reflected expectations among some participants that Democratic congressional victories could weaken the administration’s ability to pursue additional immigration restrictions.
A separate group of Salvadoran migrants was scheduled to leave San Salvador on Wednesday aboard two buses, intending to meet the Honduran caravan near the Guatemala-Mexico border.
Earlier caravans have already encountered difficult conditions while traveling north.
On Tuesday, approximately 500 migrants participating in the Fe y Esperanza 2 caravan reached Arriaga, in Mexico’s southern state of Chiapas, after traveling roughly 250 kilometers from Tapachula.
According to Mexican newspaper La Jornada, that group began its journey in San Pedro Sula on Oct. 13 and resumed traveling north from Tapachula on Oct. 20.
The migrants followed Mexico’s Pacific coastal route, passing through several municipalities before reaching Arriaga near the Oaxaca state border. Along the way, they encountered heavy rainfall, intense heat and episodes of violence within the caravan.
At least four people were injured in separate altercations during the group’s passage through Huixtla and Mapastepec, according to the Mexican report.
Despite those difficulties, participants expressed determination to continue toward the United States.
“Preferimos morirnos en el camino que quedarnos en nuestro país muriéndonos de hambre. Preferimos mejor luchar hasta llegar a nuestro objetivo si Dios lo permite, llegar a Estados Unidos,” Honduran migrant Jarol Urbina said during the journey.
Urbina said the migrants would rather risk dying during the trip than remain in their home countries facing hunger, expressing hope that they would reach the United States.
The Associated Press documented another caravan leaving southern Mexico in October, reporting that participants hoped the approaching American elections might lead to changes in immigration enforcement.
However, reaching the U.S. border remains uncertain. Mexican authorities have previously dispersed or interrupted caravans traveling through southern Mexico, and the Trump administration has maintained restrictions on unauthorized border crossings.
The Department of Homeland Security has warned that migrants traveling in organized caravans should not expect admission into the United States.
According to Just the News, federal authorities were already monitoring a separate caravan of approximately 600 migrants in September. That group, known as Fe y Esperanza, included people from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador and Haiti.
The U.S. Border Patrol said it was coordinating with international partners to monitor developments and track the movement of migrants toward the southern border.
The administration has also warned organizers of migrant caravans that they could face immigration consequences, including visa revocations.
In a public statement, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa said the caravans “have no chance of entering” American territory under existing enforcement policies.
Trump has made border security and immigration enforcement central priorities of his second administration, expanding deportation operations and imposing stricter restrictions on unauthorized entry.
The Department of Homeland Security announced last week that immigration status had been revoked for approximately 2.2 million foreign nationals since January 2025, according to AFP reporting. The administration has also tightened employment authorization requirements and increased immigration enforcement activities.
Tuesday’s Democratic victories may alter the political debate over immigration policy, but Republicans will retain the presidency and control of executive immigration agencies. Congressional Democrats could seek legislative changes or challenge administration policies through oversight and funding negotiations, although new legislation would still face the possibility of a presidential veto.
The caravan’s departure also follows a broader pattern of migration movements coinciding with American elections.
In November 2024, approximately 3,000 migrants traveled north through Mexico as Americans voted in the presidential election, according to Reuters.
The new Honduran caravan began its journey before the 2026 midterm results were announced, meaning its departure was not a direct response to the confirmed Republican defeat. Instead, participants described the election itself and the possibility of a Democratic victory as reasons for choosing their departure date.
As the latest group advances toward Guatemala and Mexico, its members face a lengthy journey, continued border enforcement and uncertainty over whether political changes in Washington will produce any meaningful change in their ability to enter the United States.
Original article
Comments