3RD MIGRANT WAVE HEADS TO U.S. FROM EL SALVADOR

Group of 300 Salvadorians bound for U.S. southern border despite warnings from government

Reuters – OCTOBER 28, 2018

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) – A new group of migrants gathered and left from the capital of El Salvador on Sunday, headed for the United States after thousands of other Central Americans began similar journeys in recent weeks, angering U.S. President Donald Trump.

The group of more than 300 Salvadorans that left San Salvador on Sunday came together after thousands of Hondurans in mid-October left their country in a large group, becoming an international news story and a key issue in the U.S. congressional elections.

A second group of Hondurans was moving through Guatemala last week, and at one point numbered more than 1,000 people before beginning to fragment.

People walk in a caravan of migrants departing from El Salvador en route to the United States, in San Salvador, El Salvador, October 28, 2018. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

Trump and his fellow Republicans have sought to make immigration a major issue before the Nov. 6 elections, in which the party is battling to keep control of Congress.

The Salvadoran migrants organized using social networks like Facebook and WhatsApp over the last couple of weeks, inspired by the group of mostly Hondurans currently crossing Mexico.

Salvadoran police traveled with the group on Sunday as they left San Salvador, the migrants carrying backpacks and water bottles and protecting themselves from the hot sun with hats. Some mothers pushed their children in strollers.

Several migrants, gathered by the capital’s ‘Savior of the World’ statue before leaving, said they were headed to the United States.

“We’re asking the all-powerful to look after us, to guide us, to free us from all that is bad,” shouted Hernan Quinteros, 49, a driver who urged his fellow travelers to tie up their shoes ahead of the long trip.

El Salvador’s left-wing government said it had solidarity with the migrants and respected their right to mobilize, but urged them not to risk their lives on the way.

October 28, 2018 0

Second migrant caravan forming at Guatemala-Mexico border

Migrants disembark from a truck in which they had gotten a ride, as a thousands-strong caravan of Central American migrants slowly makes its way toward the U.S. border, between Pijijiapan and Tonala, Mexico.

By Natalie Musumeci

A second caravan of migrants seeking asylum in the United States is forming at the Guatemala-Mexico border.

Migrants in the town of Tecun Uman, Guatemala, said Thursday they were waiting for between 1,500 and 4,000 people to mass for another caravan like the first that came through the town and is now in Mexico about 1,000 miles from the nearest US border crossing at McAllen, Texas.

The bridge connecting Tecun Uman to Ciudad Hidalgo in Mexico is closed – and migrants said they planned to cross the Suchiate River dividing the countries via rafts or by wading through the waist-deep water, USA Today reported.

Mexico shut that bridge under pressure from President Trump.

“We are in a horrible crisis in our country,” said Gabriela Patricia Aguilar Lainez, 37, one of those gathering in the town plaza with her 3-year-old daughter, according to USA Today. “We are in a political crisis, an economic crisis, and a crime crisis.”

According to the news outlet, there was no evidence that the new group of migrants from Honduras was funded by a particular organization.

The migrants said they simply banded together to flee violence that has torn apart their home countries and because there is strength in numbers.

“Our country is failed,” said Honduras native Kevin Escobar, 26, who had traveled six days walking and hitching rides to get to the Guatemala-Mexico border.

“I have to find a way to help my family and that means going to another country.”

UNICEF reported Friday that some of the estimated 2,300 children traveling with the first caravan are ill or suffering from dehydration.

The migrants were planning what would be their most ambitious single-day trek since they crossed into Mexico, setting their sights for Friday on reaching Arriaga, a march of about 62 miles.

Trump sent a message to the marchers in a tweet Thursday.

“To those in the Caravan, turnaround, we are not letting people into the United States illegally,” the commander-in-chief tweeted. “Go back to your Country and if you want, apply for citizenship like millions of others are doing!”

October 26, 2018 0

ITALY IN SHOCK: THIRD AFRICAN MIGRANT ARRESTED IN GANG RAPE AND HOMICIDE CASE OF TEEN GIRL

Italy in shock: Third African migrant arrested in gang rape and homicide case of teen girl

The Italian police have arrested a third suspect in a case that shocked the country.

Voice Of Europe – OCTOBER 26, 2018

The Italian police have arrested a third suspect in a case that shocked the country. As we reported earlier, the body of the 16-year-old Desiree Mariottini was found in an abandoned building in Rome on Saturday.

Two Senegalese nationals were already arrested last night: Mamadou Gara, 26, and Brian Minteh, 43. Today a third suspect was arrested as well. The 40-year-old man comes from Nigeria, details on his name were not given.

The men face charges of sexual group violence, selling drugs and voluntary manslaughter. Police try to track down at least one other suspect who likely was present during the gang rape of the girl, as well.

“Now I want justice for Desiree. I don’t want this tragedy to happen to other girls,” the victim’s mother, Barbara Mariottini said.

The Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, has announced a day of mourning for the city to coincide with Mariottini’s funeral.

Two Italian Ministers said today that the powers of the mayor should be increased as result of the case. “It’s time to give more powers to the mayor of Rome,” Deputy Prime Minister and Labour and Industry Minister Di Maio said.

Interior Minister Salvini, who agrees with his counterpart said earlier that he would return with a bulldozer to the area:

“I’ll come back to meet residents. As minister, I commit to cleaning up and come back with a bulldozer. There are buildings in Rome in this state with criminals who defend illegal occupations and drug dealing”.

“I have asked the State prosecutor to use a fist of iron…”I hope these beasts are soon caught,” he added.

This isn’t the first migrant murder in Italy. At the start of the year, the 18-year-old Pamela Mastropietro was murdered in Macerata.

Her body was found severely mutilated, hidden in two suitcases. Young Nigerian immigrant Innocent Oseghale was jailed for her murder.