U.S.-Bound Migrant Caravan Swells [OPINION]

A migrant caravan that originated in Honduras has now swelled to some 4,000 people. The migrants are headed for a showdown with Mexican authorities at the Mexico-Guatemala border. Mexico is under pressure from the Trump Administration to turn back the migrants, whose goal it is to make it to the United States.

NBC News says many of the migrants are unaccompanied children who are afforded special protections in the United States.

As the Trump Administration continues to fight for funding for a wall along the border with Mexico, there has been a recent surge in border crossings. NBC reports that in September, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended more than 41,400 undocumented immigrants, up from 37,544 in August.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Mexico on Friday to further pressure the government to do more to prevent the caravan from reaching the U.S. The Administration has threatened to withhold foreign aid to Central American nations who do not work to turn back the throngs of migrants.

The Administration is also promising to arrest and immediately deport anyone involved in the caravan who enters the United States illegally.

The Mexican government can and must do more to work with the United States to prevent these caravans from traveling through its territory and to the United States. The U.S. spends hundreds of millions annually in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Those governments must also do more to improve conditions for their people so that they can remain in their homelands.

Congress must act to approve funding for a border wall to protect the American people from a seemingly never-ending stream of illegal aliens, many of whom are criminals who wish to violate American sovereignty.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.