Pompeo holds the line: Caravans ‘will not be permitted’ to enter US

by Pete Kasperowicz

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the migrant caravans headed toward the U.S. won’t be allowed to enter, a prediction he made after talking to Mexico’s foreign secretary.

“I have been in close contact with Mexican Foreign Secretary Videgaray and it has been one week since Secretary Nielsen and I had a constructive meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary-designate Marcelo Ebrard to discuss the migrant caravans,” Pompeo said in a statement issued on Thanksgiving.

“We have affirmed our shared commitment to addressing the current challenge,” he said. “The caravans will not be permitted to enter the United States. There are real dangers to the safety and human rights of migrants from those who would prey on them.”

Pompeo wasn’t specific, but his statement indicates Mexico is willing to help the U.S. make sure members of the caravan are kept in Mexico, and won’t be allowed to enter the U.S. and claim asylum.

Trump has battled from the U.S. side of the border to keep thousands of migrants from entering.

Trump has pushed to change the rules to ensure that migrants can’t seek asylum if they enter the U.S. outside of a formal point of entry. However, a federal judge in California ruled this week that this policy can’t stand.

A report surfaced this week U.S. officials were preparing to deny U.S. entry to migrants unless they can show ” reasonable fear” of persecution. But DHS indicated there were no immediate plans to implement this policy.