Interview with madeleine wattenbarger

I interviewed a Mexico-based journalist, Madeleine Wattenbarger, who visited the caravan and interviewed several migrants as part of an article for The Nation. Madeleine writes about migration, human rights, and local issues in Mexico City. I asked her about the history of the migrant caravan and the future of the asylum-seeking individuals traveling North.

Why do you think people are traveling as a caravan?

“I think there is a lot of political context that goes far back. Most of the people in the caravan are fleeing some combination of gang violence, economic instability, and domestic violence. The reason they are traveling as a caravan because it is a dangerous path and there are a lot of risks if they are traveling alone. Being in a caravan gives them strength in numbers. “

President Trump claims that he is going to shut down the U.S-Mexican border to prevent anybody from the migrant caravan coming into the U.S. to seek asylum. What do you think is going to happen if he follows through with this?

“I think people would have to seek other options. People may still try to cross to get to the U.S in other ways, knowing the risk of trying to get over. It would not necessarily stop migration but become more dangerous. “

What are conditions like for migrants now that they have reached the border?

“They are in a big migrant camp in miserable conditions, sleeping under a tarp. The camps are completely flooded. It is pretty bad conditions but they are not detained. The camps at the border can have the option to leave or stay. It is basically a shelter.”

As a writer, how do you feel about human rights issues?

“I think it is a big responsibility as a writer to expose these kind of human rights violations and to do it in ways to inform people about people who are just like them. I think one of the biggest jobs is to get these stories out and let the world know.”

[Interview has been edited for clarity and length]