Federal police took steps to close a migrant shelter in Mexico's city of Tijuana on Friday, sparking protests from some of the dozens of US-bound people who had been staying there after travelling in a caravan from Central America.

The arrival of several thousand migrants in recent months, many fleeing poverty and violence in Honduras, has challenged Mexico's new president to make good on pledges to protect migrants in Mexico, just as the United States makes it increasingly hard for them to cross the border.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who began his presidency last month, has yet to detail how he will improve what he has described as deplorable conditions for people trekking thousands of miles across Mexico to the US border.

Officials in mid-December said that, of the nearly 6,000 migrants who had arrived in Tijuana in recent caravans, about half were at a large shelter in a former concert venue and another several hundred had dispersed to other shelters in the city, such as the one being closed. About 1,000 had crossed into the United States, while another 1,000 returned to their home countries.

Tijuana officials cited sanitary reasons for closing the shelter, a two-story warehouse in a zone known for crime and prostitution near the border.

The industrial site was overcrowded, poorly lit and lacked proper facilities for food preparation, said Isain Venegas, a supervisor in Mexico's public health system. Common illnesses had been treated, he added.

Officials told migrants that they could move to the bigger shelter, run by the federal government, about 7 miles (11 km) from the border.

Many migrants protested, saying they did not expect other sites to be any better.

"Not one of the shelters in Tijuana has the conditions for them to keep us in ... the authorities are tricking us," said Honduran migrant Reinerio Laine.

By mid-afternoon, several dozen migrants had refused to leave and were joined by US activists, as federal and local police in riot gear took formation at the entrance.

Others packed belongings and set off on foot to nearby shelters, while several dozen waited for a bus that would bring them to the larger, government-run facility.

"We had hoped that now with President Lopez Obrador he could see the conditions we're in. They said he was going to help, but they've treated us worse than animals," said Maria Claros, 28, from Honduras.

"We don't have anywhere to wash or do our business. I bathe with cold water when I have 20 pesos to pay for it," she added.

For decades, Tijuana, a notoriously crime-ridden border city, has attracted migrants headed north. When Central Americans began arriving in large numbers in November, officials provided lodging at a sports centre, but closed it after rains flooded the venue.

Last month, two boys from Honduras were killed outside a shelter for migrant youths.

Federal police took steps to close a migrant shelter in Mexico's city of Tijuana on Friday, sparking protests from some of the dozens of US-bound people who had been staying there after travelling in a caravan from Central America.

Federal police took steps to close a migrant shelter in Mexico's city of Tijuana on Friday, sparking protests from some of the dozens of US-bound people who had been staying there after travelling in a caravan from Central America. The arrival of several thousand migrants in recent months, many fleeing poverty and violence in Honduras, has challenged Mexico's new president to make good on pledges to protect migrants in Mexico, just as the United States makes it increasingly hard for them to cross the border. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who began his presidency last month, has yet to detail how he will improve what he has described as deplorable conditions for people trekking thousands of miles across Mexico to the US border. Officials in mid-December said that, of the nearly 6,000 migrants who had arrived in Tijuana in recent caravans, about half were at a large shelter in a former concert venue and another several hundred had dispersed to other shelters in the city, such as the one being closed. About 1,000 had crossed into the United States, while another 1,000 returned to their home countries. Tijuana officials cited sanitary reasons for closing the shelter, a two-story warehouse in a zone known for crime and prostitution near the border. The industrial site was overcrowded, poorly lit and lacked proper facilities for food preparation, said Isain Venegas, a supervisor in Mexico's public health system. Common illnesses had been treated, he added. Officials told migrants that they could move to the bigger shelter, run by the federal government, about 7 miles (11 km) from the border. Many migrants protested, saying they did not expect other sites to be any better. "Not one of the shelters in Tijuana has the conditions for them to keep us in ... the authorities are tricking us," said Honduran migrant Reinerio Laine. By mid-afternoon, several dozen migrants had refused to leave and were joined by US activists, as federal and local police in riot gear took formation at the entrance. Others packed belongings and set off on foot to nearby shelters, while several dozen waited for a bus that would bring them to the larger, government-run facility. "We had hoped that now with President Lopez Obrador he could see the conditions we're in. They said he was going to help, but they've treated us worse than animals," said Maria Claros, 28, from Honduras. "We don't have anywhere to wash or do our business. I bathe with cold water when I have 20 pesos to pay for it," she added. For decades, Tijuana, a notoriously crime-ridden border city, has attracted migrants headed north. When Central Americans began arriving in large numbers in November, officials provided lodging at a sports centre, but closed it after rains flooded the venue. Last month, two boys from Honduras were killed outside a shelter for migrant youths.

Central American migrants protest closure of Tijuana shelter

The United States, hoping to stem migration, said Tuesday it was ready to support $4.5 billion in investment in Central America and southern Mexico.

The United States promised to back new Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's push for development in Central America, the primary source of migrants whose unauthorized entry into the United States has become a central focus for President Donald Trump.

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which offers government-backed favorable financing to US businesses, is prepared to support $2.5 billion in new investment in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras "if commercially viable projects are identified," the State Department said.

OPIC is also looking to mobilize $2 billion more for southern Mexico, the country's poorest region, a statement said.

The State Department said that OPIC already has $2.8 billion worth of projects in the pipeline in Mexico as well as $1 billion since last year in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras -- the so-called "Northern Triangle."

In a parallel announcement in Mexico, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard told reporters that his government was "committed to promote strong regional growth, better-paying jobs and more opportunities for all our citizens."

Democrats skeptical

The US funding offer, made in a low-key written statement, comes in stark contrast to Trump's years of rallies demanding that Mexico pay for a vast wall on the border.

Trump, railing against unauthorized immigration ahead of last month's election, threatened via Twitter in October to cut off aid to Central America unless they stopped migrants.

Two months later, the US government is teetering on the brink of a shutdown with Trump demanding that Congress provide $5 billion for the wall.

Representative Eliot Engel, a Democrat who next month takes over the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was "skeptical" about the "rhetorical commitment" to Central America in light of the Trump administration's policies, including separating children from parents at the border.

He said that Congress would look carefully at the next budget to "separate fact from fiction" and ensure that the United States is in fact supporting Central America.

In new government funding, the State Department said it would request an additional $180 million for the Northern Triangle in its request to Congress for the 2019 fiscal year.

While backing Trump's wall, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has acknowledged that development is a longer-term solution to migration from the Northern Triangle countries, which are among the world's most violent.

State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said the United States expected Central American countries to "hold up their end of the bargain" and work to improve the situation at home.

The United States, hoping to stem migration, said Tuesday it was ready to support $4.5 billion in investment in Central America and southern Mexico. The United States promised to back new Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's push for development in Central America, the primary source of migrants whose unauthorized entry into the United States has become a central focus for President Donald Trump.

The United States, hoping to stem migration, said Tuesday it was ready to support $4.5 billion in investment in Central America and southern Mexico. The United States promised to back new Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's push for development in Central America, the primary source of migrants whose unauthorized entry into the United States has become a central focus for President Donald Trump. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which offers government-backed favorable financing to US businesses, is prepared to support $2.5 billion in new investment in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras "if commercially viable projects are identified," the State Department said. OPIC is also looking to mobilize $2 billion more for southern Mexico, the country's poorest region, a statement said. The State Department said that OPIC already has $2.8 billion worth of projects in the pipeline in Mexico as well as $1 billion since last year in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras -- the so-called "Northern Triangle." In a parallel announcement in Mexico, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard told reporters that his government was "committed to promote strong regional growth, better-paying jobs and more opportunities for all our citizens." Democrats skeptical The US funding offer, made in a low-key written statement, comes in stark contrast to Trump's years of rallies demanding that Mexico pay for a vast wall on the border. Trump, railing against unauthorized immigration ahead of last month's election, threatened via Twitter in October to cut off aid to Central America unless they stopped migrants. Two months later, the US government is teetering on the brink of a shutdown with Trump demanding that Congress provide $5 billion for the wall. Representative Eliot Engel, a Democrat who next month takes over the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was "skeptical" about the "rhetorical commitment" to Central America in light of the Trump administration's policies, including separating children from parents at the border. He said that Congress would look carefully at the next budget to "separate fact from fiction" and ensure that the United States is in fact supporting Central America. In new government funding, the State Department said it would request an additional $180 million for the Northern Triangle in its request to Congress for the 2019 fiscal year. While backing Trump's wall, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has acknowledged that development is a longer-term solution to migration from the Northern Triangle countries, which are among the world's most violent. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said the United States expected Central American countries to "hold up their end of the bargain" and work to improve the situation at home.

US offers $4.5 billion investment in Central America, Mexico

Colombian President Ivan Duque is stressing the need for international action to halt Nicolas Maduro's "dictatorship" in Venezuela, which he blames for a "massive humanitarian crisis" and a migration wave.

"The real cause of this migration shock is the dictatorship," the right-wing leader told AFP. "We must use all the diplomatic mechanisms, all the multilateral mechanisms available to allow this dictatorship to end."

During an official visit to France from November 11-13, Duque, who has been in power since August 7, will take part in Sunday's Forum for Peace organized by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Prior to his departure he urged the need for countries worldwide to fight drug trafficking, in a wide-ranging interview with AFP that also touched on peace talks with Colombia's last active guerrilla group and the election of an extreme-right leader in Brazil.

'Shared struggle'

Duque accused Maduro -- leader of Venezuela, where economic woes began in 2014 with the crash in the price of crude -- of "clinging to power and exacerbating patriotic feelings in his favour."

Maduro's government has been slapped with a range of sanctions over its crackdown on the opposition and civil society critics.

The Colombian president said its neighbours "huge humanitarian crisis" is leaking over the border: "We have received nearly a million migrants in less than two years."

"Colombia is facing a difficult situation," he said, calling on the international community to help with "significant means to face this challenge."

He echoed the need for international cooperation on the issue of drug trafficking: "All countries of the world must strengthen their policies to prevent consumption," he said."

"The fight against drugs must be a shared struggle."

Illegal coca plantations in Colombia reached record levels last year following a 17 per cent increase from 2016 to around 423,000 acres (171,000 hectares), according to the United Nations.

Threat of 'offensive' action

Colombia, the world's leading producer of cocaine, is just emerging from over a half century of civil war waged by guerrillas, paramilitaries, armed forces and drug traffickers.&nbsp;

Asked about 2016's peace agreement between the ex-rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), now a political party, and the government, Duque emphasized that he "never campaigned saying that we are going to destroy the agreements."

Duque has vowed to fix "flaws" in the agreement negotiated by his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos.

He has in particular criticized the FARC deal as being too lenient in allowing former rebels accused of atrocities to serve as lawmakers.

Duque said the "most important issue is... to ensure that those holding political representation mandates, tried by transitional justice and whose human rights violations are upheld, receive proportionate sentences and leave political office."

Concerning Colombia's last active guerrilla rebels, the National Liberation Army (ELN), Duque reiterated his position that he is "ready to sit down and speak with them if, and only if, they release all the hostages" and halt all criminal activities."

"If that does not happen, we will have to act... firmly" he continued. "In a dissuasive and offensive way."

Private development

Peace talks have been suspended since the beginning of August when Santos admitted defeat in his bid to reach a conclusion before handing over power to Duque.&nbsp;

The ELN has insisted that they will not suspend their insurgency until Duque names a new team of peace negotiators to restart the Cuban-hosted talks.

Concerning Brazil's new far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, Duque said "my interest is to continue to strengthen relations with Brazil."

"Brazil is an important country for Colombia, not only because it shares a border, but for the market it represents; for its weight in regional geopolitics."

"If in Brazil, conditions are met for a government favorable to the development of the private sector, interregional trade, cross-border investments -- I think it will be a great success."

"I hope this will be President Bolsonaro's line of work."

Colombian President Ivan Duque is stressing the need for international action to halt Nicolas Maduro's "dictatorship" in Venezuela, which he blames for a "massive humanitarian crisis" and a migration wave.

Colombian President Ivan Duque is stressing the need for international action to halt Nicolas Maduro's "dictatorship" in Venezuela, which he blames for a "massive humanitarian crisis" and a migration wave. "The real cause of this migration shock is the dictatorship," the right-wing leader told AFP. "We must use all the diplomatic mechanisms, all the multilateral mechanisms available to allow this dictatorship to end." During an official visit to France from November 11-13, Duque, who has been in power since August 7, will take part in Sunday's Forum for Peace organized by French President Emmanuel Macron. Prior to his departure he urged the need for countries worldwide to fight drug trafficking, in a wide-ranging interview with AFP that also touched on peace talks with Colombia's last active guerrilla group and the election of an extreme-right leader in Brazil. 'Shared struggle' Duque accused Maduro -- leader of Venezuela, where economic woes began in 2014 with the crash in the price of crude -- of "clinging to power and exacerbating patriotic feelings in his favour." Maduro's government has been slapped with a range of sanctions over its crackdown on the opposition and civil society critics. The Colombian president said its neighbours "huge humanitarian crisis" is leaking over the border: "We have received nearly a million migrants in less than two years." "Colombia is facing a difficult situation," he said, calling on the international community to help with "significant means to face this challenge." He echoed the need for international cooperation on the issue of drug trafficking: "All countries of the world must strengthen their policies to prevent consumption," he said." "The fight against drugs must be a shared struggle." Illegal coca plantations in Colombia reached record levels last year following a 17 per cent increase from 2016 to around 423,000 acres (171,000 hectares), according to the United Nations. Threat of 'offensive' action Colombia, the world's leading producer of cocaine, is just emerging from over a half century of civil war waged by guerrillas, paramilitaries, armed forces and drug traffickers. Asked about 2016's peace agreement between the ex-rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), now a political party, and the government, Duque emphasized that he "never campaigned saying that we are going to destroy the agreements." Duque has vowed to fix "flaws" in the agreement negotiated by his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos. He has in particular criticized the FARC deal as being too lenient in allowing former rebels accused of atrocities to serve as lawmakers. Duque said the "most important issue is... to ensure that those holding political representation mandates, tried by transitional justice and whose human rights violations are upheld, receive proportionate sentences and leave political office." Concerning Colombia's last active guerrilla rebels, the National Liberation Army (ELN), Duque reiterated his position that he is "ready to sit down and speak with them if, and only if, they release all the hostages" and halt all criminal activities." "If that does not happen, we will have to act... firmly" he continued. "In a dissuasive and offensive way." Private development Peace talks have been suspended since the beginning of August when Santos admitted defeat in his bid to reach a conclusion before handing over power to Duque. The ELN has insisted that they will not suspend their insurgency until Duque names a new team of peace negotiators to restart the Cuban-hosted talks. Concerning Brazil's new far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, Duque said "my interest is to continue to strengthen relations with Brazil." "Brazil is an important country for Colombia, not only because it shares a border, but for the market it represents; for its weight in regional geopolitics." "If in Brazil, conditions are met for a government favorable to the development of the private sector, interregional trade, cross-border investments -- I think it will be a great success." "I hope this will be President Bolsonaro's line of work."

Colombia's Duque calls for action against Venezuelan 'dictatorship'

As the caravan of mostly Honduran migrants heads towards the US border, the region's environment minister and experts have warned that the increasing climate change will swell Central America's migration to the US.

"The next migrants are going to be climate migrants," El Salvador's Environment and Natural Resources Minister Lina Pohl told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Panama.

The Conference also highlighted that climate change had resulted in prolonged periods of drought and rain in the region, damaging&nbsp;the crops of poorer subsistence farmers. The changes further compel the people to move to a different place for better opportunities.

Pohl also said that Central America has had recurrent losses in agriculture, with populations increasingly faced with fewer opportunities for work and development.

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The Ministers also added that five Central American countries Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic were among the 15 most vulnerable states to climate change.

Climate change had a major impact on migration, the ministers at the Conference said, adding that the&nbsp;countries which did not have food security experienced major migration.

The Honduras' deputy environment minister Elvin Rodas said that the all Central American countries were suffering.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

As the caravan of mostly Honduran migrants heads towards the US border, the region's environment minister and experts have warned that the increasing climate change will swell Central America's migration to the US.

As the caravan of mostly Honduran migrants heads towards the US border, the region's environment minister and experts have warned that the increasing climate change will swell Central America's migration to the US. "The next migrants are going to be climate migrants," El Salvador's Environment and Natural Resources Minister Lina Pohl told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Panama. The Conference also highlighted that climate change had resulted in prolonged periods of drought and rain in the region, damaging the crops of poorer subsistence farmers. The changes further compel the people to move to a different place for better opportunities. Pohl also said that Central America has had recurrent losses in agriculture, with populations increasingly faced with fewer opportunities for work and development. × The Ministers also added that five Central American countries Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic were among the 15 most vulnerable states to climate change. Climate change had a major impact on migration, the ministers at the Conference said, adding that the countries which did not have food security experienced major migration. The Honduras' deputy environment minister Elvin Rodas said that the all Central American countries were suffering. (With inputs from AFP)

Climate change swelling Central American migration to US: Experts

Florida's governor mobilized National Guard troops and thousands of Gulf Coast residents were ordered evacuated on Monday, two days before Hurricane Michael was forecast to slam ashore with life-threatening waves, winds and rains.

Michael was packing sustained winds of up to 85 miles per hour (140 kph) and gaining strength as it skirted past Cuba's western tip en route to a likely Wednesday landfall as the most powerful storm to strike the Florida Panhandle in at least a decade.

Currently ranked as a Category 1 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale, Michael could grow into a Category 3, becoming the second major hurricane in the Atlantic basin this year following Florence last month, forecasters said.

The storm is expected to unleash coastal storm surges of up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) along Florida's Panhandle and dump as much as a foot (30 cm) of rain across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported.

The NHC warned that both could trigger deadly flooding and that residents within the hurricane warning zone should likewise "prepare for life-threatening winds."

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in 35 counties along Florida's Panhandle and Big Bend regions. Mandatory evacuations were under way in coastal areas, with 1,250 National Guard soldiers aiding the process and more than 4,000 troops placed on standby, Scott tweeted.

"The FL panhandle needs to be prepared for a direct hit with sustained hurricane force winds," Scott wrote on Twitter on Monday.

In Gulf County alone, the first to begin ordering residents of low-lying areas to higher ground, mandatory evacuation notices encompassed an estimated 3,800 homes, said Jessica Sasich of the county's emergency operations centre.

Many are located in the coastal town of Port St. Joe, the county's largest municipality, lying directly in the hurricane's projected path, she said.

In neighbouring Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey declared an emergency for the entire state on Monday in anticipation of wind damage, heavy rains and power outages.

Michael kills 13 in Central America

As the storm moved north it battered Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba with drenching rains and winds of up to 80 mph (130 kph), the Miami-based hurricane centre said.

Torrential downpours and flash-flooding over the weekend caused 13 deaths in Central America after Michael formed off the coast of northern Honduras.

In Florida, state offices, schools and universities were set to close on Tuesday through the end of the week in panhandle counties. Some beach town residents were left to decide on their own for the time being whether to leave their homes.

"I haven't made up my mind yet, but I know some of my staff are going," said Dave Trepanier, owner of Firefly, a restaurant a block from the beach in Panama City, Bay County, an area where the hurricane is expected to come ashore.

Lines at gasoline stations were growing long in Panama City as people prepared to leave areas under mandatory evacuation, Trepanier said.

Hurricane Michael would be the first major hurricane to hit the panhandle since Hurricane Dennis in 2005, which made landfall near Pensacola, according to hurricane centre data.

After striking Florida, Michael is forecast to move up the East Coast on Wednesday and Thursday ploughing through the Carolinas, still recovering from Hurricane Florence last month.

Energy companies halted nearly a fifth of Gulf of Mexico oil production and evacuated personnel from 10 platforms on Monday.

The Gulf of Mexico is home to 17 per cent of daily U.S. crude oil output and 5 per cent of daily natural gas output, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Florida's governor mobilized National Guard troops and thousands of Gulf Coast residents were ordered evacuated on Monday, two days before Hurricane Michael was forecast to slam ashore with life-threatening waves, winds and rains.

Florida's governor mobilized National Guard troops and thousands of Gulf Coast residents were ordered evacuated on Monday, two days before Hurricane Michael was forecast to slam ashore with life-threatening waves, winds and rains. Michael was packing sustained winds of up to 85 miles per hour (140 kph) and gaining strength as it skirted past Cuba's western tip en route to a likely Wednesday landfall as the most powerful storm to strike the Florida Panhandle in at least a decade. Currently ranked as a Category 1 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale, Michael could grow into a Category 3, becoming the second major hurricane in the Atlantic basin this year following Florence last month, forecasters said. The storm is expected to unleash coastal storm surges of up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) along Florida's Panhandle and dump as much as a foot (30 cm) of rain across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. The NHC warned that both could trigger deadly flooding and that residents within the hurricane warning zone should likewise "prepare for life-threatening winds." Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in 35 counties along Florida's Panhandle and Big Bend regions. Mandatory evacuations were under way in coastal areas, with 1,250 National Guard soldiers aiding the process and more than 4,000 troops placed on standby, Scott tweeted. "The FL panhandle needs to be prepared for a direct hit with sustained hurricane force winds," Scott wrote on Twitter on Monday. In Gulf County alone, the first to begin ordering residents of low-lying areas to higher ground, mandatory evacuation notices encompassed an estimated 3,800 homes, said Jessica Sasich of the county's emergency operations centre. Many are located in the coastal town of Port St. Joe, the county's largest municipality, lying directly in the hurricane's projected path, she said. In neighbouring Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey declared an emergency for the entire state on Monday in anticipation of wind damage, heavy rains and power outages. Michael kills 13 in Central America As the storm moved north it battered Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba with drenching rains and winds of up to 80 mph (130 kph), the Miami-based hurricane centre said. Torrential downpours and flash-flooding over the weekend caused 13 deaths in Central America after Michael formed off the coast of northern Honduras. In Florida, state offices, schools and universities were set to close on Tuesday through the end of the week in panhandle counties. Some beach town residents were left to decide on their own for the time being whether to leave their homes. "I haven't made up my mind yet, but I know some of my staff are going," said Dave Trepanier, owner of Firefly, a restaurant a block from the beach in Panama City, Bay County, an area where the hurricane is expected to come ashore. Lines at gasoline stations were growing long in Panama City as people prepared to leave areas under mandatory evacuation, Trepanier said. Hurricane Michael would be the first major hurricane to hit the panhandle since Hurricane Dennis in 2005, which made landfall near Pensacola, according to hurricane centre data. After striking Florida, Michael is forecast to move up the East Coast on Wednesday and Thursday ploughing through the Carolinas, still recovering from Hurricane Florence last month. Energy companies halted nearly a fifth of Gulf of Mexico oil production and evacuated personnel from 10 platforms on Monday. The Gulf of Mexico is home to 17 per cent of daily U.S. crude oil output and 5 per cent of daily natural gas output, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Hurricane Michael menaces Florida after fatal flooding in Central America

Eight women and children from a Central American caravan entered US&nbspterritory to seek asylum on Monday, sparking celebrations among companions after a month-long trail across Mexico that led President Donald Trump to demand changes in the law.

Carrying scant possessions, the asylum seekers walked through a door into the San Ysidro port of entry on the bidding of a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer.

The first to enter was part of a small group from the caravan who Mexican officials let walk over a pedestrian bridge on Sunday and who have been camped at the San Ysidro gate ever since when the CBP said the facility between Tijuana and San Diego was saturated.

A larger group of about 150 people has not been let onto the bridge and was preparing for a second night sleeping in an open plaza on the Mexican side. Hoping they would also be let through to make their case, members of the group pumped fists and cheered when they heard some of their companions had crossed.

The caravan has been in the spotlight ever since it began a more than 2,000-mile (3,200 km) journey from southern Mexico, gathering 1,500 people at one point, to the fury of Trump, who demanded that officials do not let such groups into the country.

His administration's hands are tied, however, by international rules obliging the United States to accept asylum applications.

Despite Trump's threats, earlier on Monday Vice President Mike Pence admitted the caravan members would be processed in line with the law.

Fleeing what they say are death threats, extortion and violence in neighbourhoods controlled by the powerful Mara street gangs, once in the United States the asylum seekers must convince officials they have reason to fear to return home.

The majority of asylum claims by Central Americans are ultimately unsuccessful, resulting in detention and deportation. The Trump administration says many claims are fake, aided by legal loopholes.

"We began processing undocumented arrivals again on Monday, a CBP spokeswoman said, adding that the number of individuals they could process in a day varied and that the other asylum seekers may have to wait in Mexico until more space was freed.

"As in the past when we’ve had to limit the number of people we can bring in for processing at a given time, we expect that this will be a temporary situation," she said.

By the time it reached the US&nbspborder the caravan had dwindled to a few hundred people but was still large enough to prompt comments from Trump and Pence on Monday.

Pence said US&nbsplaws needed to change to remove "incentives" for migrants and he accused immigration activists of encouraging members of the caravan into leaving their homes.

"These families, often women with small children, are victims, they are victims of open border advocates," Pence said during an inspection of new border fencing a few hours drives from San Diego.

Only two of the dozens of people in the caravan who spoke to Reuters over the past month said they were aware of it before they left home. Those two said the caravan's existence did not influence their decisions to flee what they described as appalling conditions.

Elated

Shaken and elated by the sudden turn of events, the remaining 15 women and children at the gate waited to see if the officer returned to let more through. Ayde Hernandez, from Guatemala, beamed and said she hoped she was next.

An immigration lawyer advising the group cried with relief as one boy passed through.

"I'm a lawyer, I'm not supposed to cry, (but) I've been with that boy for two days," she said, declining to give her name.

Asked by Mexican authorities to take down a makeshift tarpaulin roofing as night fell, they huddled close against the deepening cold to talk of what would come next, their children nodding asleep.

Until now, waiting near the gate for the past 24 hours had been the worst part of the journey, said Luisa Cruz, 44, from Nicaragua, which she had fled with her daughter after a case of domestic violence.

"No way to go to the bathroom, and the hunger, and the cold," she croaked, through a sore throat.

Asylum seekers must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution at home, most often from a state entity. Central Americans fare badly in such claims because the state is rarely seen as directly responsible for the life-threatening situations they leave behind.

US&nbspborder authorities say some people associated with the caravan were caught trying to slip through the border fence.

On Monday, Trump railed against a system that may see some of the caravan members freed in the United States until their cases are resolved because a shortage of beds at detention centres and rules that limit how long women with children can be held.

"Catch and release is ridiculous. If they touch our property, if they touch our country, essentially you catch them and you release them into our country. That's not acceptable to anybody, so we need a change in the law," he said.

Despite Trump's threats, earlier on Monday Vice President Mike Pence admitted the caravan members would be processed in line with the law

Eight women and children from a Central American caravan entered US&nbspterritory to seek asylum on Monday, sparking celebrations among companions after a month-long trail across Mexico that led President Donald Trump to demand changes in the law. Carrying scant possessions, the asylum seekers walked through a door into the San Ysidro port of entry on the bidding of a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer. The first to enter was part of a small group from the caravan who Mexican officials let walk over a pedestrian bridge on Sunday and who have been camped at the San Ysidro gate ever since when the CBP said the facility between Tijuana and San Diego was saturated. A larger group of about 150 people has not been let onto the bridge and was preparing for a second night sleeping in an open plaza on the Mexican side. Hoping they would also be let through to make their case, members of the group pumped fists and cheered when they heard some of their companions had crossed. The caravan has been in the spotlight ever since it began a more than 2,000-mile (3,200 km) journey from southern Mexico, gathering 1,500 people at one point, to the fury of Trump, who demanded that officials do not let such groups into the country. His administration's hands are tied, however, by international rules obliging the United States to accept asylum applications. Despite Trump's threats, earlier on Monday Vice President Mike Pence admitted the caravan members would be processed in line with the law. Fleeing what they say are death threats, extortion and violence in neighbourhoods controlled by the powerful Mara street gangs, once in the United States the asylum seekers must convince officials they have reason to fear to return home. The majority of asylum claims by Central Americans are ultimately unsuccessful, resulting in detention and deportation. The Trump administration says many claims are fake, aided by legal loopholes. "We began processing undocumented arrivals again on Monday, a CBP spokeswoman said, adding that the number of individuals they could process in a day varied and that the other asylum seekers may have to wait in Mexico until more space was freed. "As in the past when we’ve had to limit the number of people we can bring in for processing at a given time, we expect that this will be a temporary situation," she said. By the time it reached the US&nbspborder the caravan had dwindled to a few hundred people but was still large enough to prompt comments from Trump and Pence on Monday. Pence said US&nbsplaws needed to change to remove "incentives" for migrants and he accused immigration activists of encouraging members of the caravan into leaving their homes. "These families, often women with small children, are victims, they are victims of open border advocates," Pence said during an inspection of new border fencing a few hours drives from San Diego. Only two of the dozens of people in the caravan who spoke to Reuters over the past month said they were aware of it before they left home. Those two said the caravan's existence did not influence their decisions to flee what they described as appalling conditions. Elated Shaken and elated by the sudden turn of events, the remaining 15 women and children at the gate waited to see if the officer returned to let more through. Ayde Hernandez, from Guatemala, beamed and said she hoped she was next. An immigration lawyer advising the group cried with relief as one boy passed through. "I'm a lawyer, I'm not supposed to cry, (but) I've been with that boy for two days," she said, declining to give her name. Asked by Mexican authorities to take down a makeshift tarpaulin roofing as night fell, they huddled close against the deepening cold to talk of what would come next, their children nodding asleep. Until now, waiting near the gate for the past 24 hours had been the worst part of the journey, said Luisa Cruz, 44, from Nicaragua, which she had fled with her daughter after a case of domestic violence. "No way to go to the bathroom, and the hunger, and the cold," she croaked, through a sore throat. Asylum seekers must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution at home, most often from a state entity. Central Americans fare badly in such claims because the state is rarely seen as directly responsible for the life-threatening situations they leave behind. US&nbspborder authorities say some people associated with the caravan were caught trying to slip through the border fence. On Monday, Trump railed against a system that may see some of the caravan members freed in the United States until their cases are resolved because a shortage of beds at detention centres and rules that limit how long women with children can be held. "Catch and release is ridiculous. If they touch our property, if they touch our country, essentially you catch them and you release them into our country. That's not acceptable to anybody, so we need a change in the law," he said.

Eight women, children from Central American 'caravan' first to enter US

The United States is to start vetting would-be refugees from Central America in their home countries instead of on American soil, and offer those in imminent danger a temporary haven in Costa Rica, officials said on Tuesday. 
 
The announcement - a significant change in US immigration handling - comes after America toughened its southern border against a persistent flow of thousands of Central Americans fleeing violence, and as it steps up deportations of migrants who failed to win asylum. 
 
It also arrives in a US election year in which migration is a hot-button issue. 
 
Under the plan, to be carried out in coordination with the UN refugee agency UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, &quot;the United States government will pre-screen vulnerable applicants from the region seeking protection&quot;, the White House said in a statement. 
 
It will focus on citizens of the so-called &quot;Northern Triangle&quot; in Central America comprising Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, which are prey to frightening levels of gang-related violence, poverty and corruption. 
 
A White House spokesman, Eric Schulz, told reporters the initiative was to &quot;promote safe migration&quot;, especially for the many children attempting the &quot;harrowing and sometimes deadly trip&quot; overland to the United States. 
 
The White House statement added that asylum-seekers &quot;most in need of immediate protection&quot; would be transferred to Costa Rica. 
 
There, they would be processed further before going on to the United States or another safe country. 
 
&#39;Important&#39; step&nbsp; 
 
UNHCR&#39;s representative for Central America, Carlos Maldonado, told a news conference in Costa Rica that &quot;these people will stay a maximum of six months in Costa Rica with a humanitarian visa and will later leave for a third country&quot;. 
 
During their waiting period, the applicants would receive English language and other courses to help them adapt to their new countries, he said. 
 
Officers from the US department of homeland security will carry out the vetting in Central America, officials said. 
 
Amy Pope, the Homeland Security deputy adviser on the National Security Council headed by President Barack Obama, told reporters that US procedures to date had proven &quot;insufficient to address the number of people who may have legitimate refugee claims&quot;. 
 
She called the deal to use Costa Rica as a safe stopover for refugees was &quot;an extraordinarily important step forward for this program&quot;. 
 
Officials stressed that Central American migrants entering Costa Rica without being processed in their home country first would not be included in the program. 
 
Pope said the vetting to be carried out would be the same as that for all refugee applicants, describing it as &quot;the most comprehensive screening we do for any category of immigrants coming to the United States&quot;. 
 
US officials said they were additionally expanding an initiative for Central American minors, under which a migrant already legally in the US can ask for refugee status for them. 
 
The broadened approach will now also permit adult children to be included, as well family members who are parents or caregivers. 
 
Obama&#39;s legacy&nbsp; 
 
The changes reflect efforts by Obama&#39;s administration to find a more effective solution to the wave of Central American migrants trying to enter the US. 
 
In 2014, America saw a big spike in the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border from Mexico. 
 
The United States responded by having Mexico bolster efforts to stop those crossing the border, and by ordering the deportation of Central American migrants in the US whose application to stay had been rejected by courts. 
 
At the same time, the United States has approved $750 million in aid to the Northern Triangle countries to boost security, in a bid to reduce the reasons so many people were fleeing. 
 
Obama in 2014 issued a decree to allow migrants whose children are legally resident to apply for permits to live in America, which would have shielded millions from deportation. 
 
But in June this year the US Supreme Court blocked that measure. 
 
Hillary Clinton, who is campaigning to succeed Obama as President in a November election, said the ruling &quot;could tear apart five million families facing deportation&quot;. 
 
However Donald Trump, her Republican challenger, has taken a tough line on all immigration, and has vowed to build a wall along the US-Mexican border if he becomes president. 
 
(AFP)

Focus will be on citizens from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras which are prey to gang-related violence, poverty and corruption

The United States is to start vetting would-be refugees from Central America in their home countries instead of on American soil, and offer those in imminent danger a temporary haven in Costa Rica, officials said on Tuesday. The announcement - a significant change in US immigration handling - comes after America toughened its southern border against a persistent flow of thousands of Central Americans fleeing violence, and as it steps up deportations of migrants who failed to win asylum. It also arrives in a US election year in which migration is a hot-button issue. Under the plan, to be carried out in coordination with the UN refugee agency UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, "the United States government will pre-screen vulnerable applicants from the region seeking protection", the White House said in a statement. It will focus on citizens of the so-called "Northern Triangle" in Central America comprising Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, which are prey to frightening levels of gang-related violence, poverty and corruption. A White House spokesman, Eric Schulz, told reporters the initiative was to "promote safe migration", especially for the many children attempting the "harrowing and sometimes deadly trip" overland to the United States. The White House statement added that asylum-seekers "most in need of immediate protection" would be transferred to Costa Rica. There, they would be processed further before going on to the United States or another safe country. 'Important' step UNHCR's representative for Central America, Carlos Maldonado, told a news conference in Costa Rica that "these people will stay a maximum of six months in Costa Rica with a humanitarian visa and will later leave for a third country". During their waiting period, the applicants would receive English language and other courses to help them adapt to their new countries, he said. Officers from the US department of homeland security will carry out the vetting in Central America, officials said. Amy Pope, the Homeland Security deputy adviser on the National Security Council headed by President Barack Obama, told reporters that US procedures to date had proven "insufficient to address the number of people who may have legitimate refugee claims". She called the deal to use Costa Rica as a safe stopover for refugees was "an extraordinarily important step forward for this program". Officials stressed that Central American migrants entering Costa Rica without being processed in their home country first would not be included in the program. Pope said the vetting to be carried out would be the same as that for all refugee applicants, describing it as "the most comprehensive screening we do for any category of immigrants coming to the United States". US officials said they were additionally expanding an initiative for Central American minors, under which a migrant already legally in the US can ask for refugee status for them. The broadened approach will now also permit adult children to be included, as well family members who are parents or caregivers. Obama's legacy The changes reflect efforts by Obama's administration to find a more effective solution to the wave of Central American migrants trying to enter the US. In 2014, America saw a big spike in the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border from Mexico. The United States responded by having Mexico bolster efforts to stop those crossing the border, and by ordering the deportation of Central American migrants in the US whose application to stay had been rejected by courts. At the same time, the United States has approved $750 million in aid to the Northern Triangle countries to boost security, in a bid to reduce the reasons so many people were fleeing. Obama in 2014 issued a decree to allow migrants whose children are legally resident to apply for permits to live in America, which would have shielded millions from deportation. But in June this year the US Supreme Court blocked that measure. Hillary Clinton, who is campaigning to succeed Obama as President in a November election, said the ruling "could tear apart five million families facing deportation". However Donald Trump, her Republican challenger, has taken a tough line on all immigration, and has vowed to build a wall along the US-Mexican border if he becomes president. (AFP)

US turns to vetting would-be refugees in Central America

Soon after the disclosures from the &lsquo;Panama Papers&rsquo; rocked the global elite, the country is eyeing a series of efforts to polish its tarnished image. This weekend, as a part of the efforts, Panama will witness the inauguration of a wider canal, the waterway&#39;s administrator has said. 
 
&quot;We are showing the world the real face of Panama and that will no doubt have a positive effect on the image of the country during these adversities we are going through,&quot; Jorge Quijano, head of the Panama Canal Authority, said in an interview. 
 
On Sunday, the Central American nation is set to officially open its expansion work on the century-old Panama Canal after years of costly work with a ceremony featuring regional leaders and foreign dignitaries. 
 
The project ran hundreds of millions of dollars over budget and two years past deadline, taking nine years to complete at a cost of more than $5.5 billion. It required the construction of new locks, enlarged access and a deepening of the canal bed. &nbsp; 
 
The pharaonic task of broadening the 80-kilometre (50-mile) canal, which is sometimes called the eighth modern wonder of the world, is believed to be a source of pride for Panama. 
 
It may be recalled that April&#39;s &quot;Panama Papers&quot; revelations, which exposed how some of the world&#39;s wealthy and influential stashed assets in offshore companies thanks to the work of a Panama-based law firm, have cast a long shadow over the country&#39;s image. &quot;We have expanded the wonder. It&#39;s a major step for a small country and that fills us with pride to have achieved that,&quot; Quijano said. 
 
(AFP)

The project ran hundreds of millions of dollars over budget and took nine years to be completed at an estimated cost of $5.5 billion

Soon after the disclosures from the ‘Panama Papers’ rocked the global elite, the country is eyeing a series of efforts to polish its tarnished image. This weekend, as a part of the efforts, Panama will witness the inauguration of a wider canal, the waterway's administrator has said. "We are showing the world the real face of Panama and that will no doubt have a positive effect on the image of the country during these adversities we are going through," Jorge Quijano, head of the Panama Canal Authority, said in an interview. On Sunday, the Central American nation is set to officially open its expansion work on the century-old Panama Canal after years of costly work with a ceremony featuring regional leaders and foreign dignitaries. The project ran hundreds of millions of dollars over budget and two years past deadline, taking nine years to complete at a cost of more than $5.5 billion. It required the construction of new locks, enlarged access and a deepening of the canal bed. The pharaonic task of broadening the 80-kilometre (50-mile) canal, which is sometimes called the eighth modern wonder of the world, is believed to be a source of pride for Panama. It may be recalled that April's "Panama Papers" revelations, which exposed how some of the world's wealthy and influential stashed assets in offshore companies thanks to the work of a Panama-based law firm, have cast a long shadow over the country's image. "We have expanded the wonder. It's a major step for a small country and that fills us with pride to have achieved that," Quijano said. (AFP)

After Panama papers, country eyes image boost with wider canal

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