About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 2018)
TODAYS TOP HEADLINES The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Monday, November 5, 2018 3A Leading migrant caravan heads for Mexico City Central American migrants pack into the back of a trailer truck as they begin their morning trek as part of a thousands- strong caravan hoping to reach the U.S. border, in Isla, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 4. BY SONIA PEREZ D. Associated Press ISLA, Mexico — Thou sands of bone-tired Central Americans set their sights on Mexico City on Sunday, after undertaking a grueling jour ney through a part of Mexico that has been particularly treacherous for migrants seeking to get to the United States. The majority of the roughly 4,000 migrants streamed into the town of Cordoba in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, a gateway to the central part of the country 124 miles from their previous stop. The day’s trek was one of the longest yet, as the exhausted migrants tried to make progress walking and hitching rides toward the U.S. border still hundreds of miles away. It is unclear what part of the U.S. border they will aim for eventually, but their latest overnight stay in Veracruz could be one of their last before they head to Mexico City, a potential launching spot for a broader array of destinations. In the capital, they may also receive additional sup port, although Mexican officials have appeared con flicted over whether to help or hinder their journey. Manuel Calderon, 43, a migrant from El Salvador, knew many miles lay ahead and said he wanted to “speed up the pace.” He said he was fleeing violence in his home country and had dreams of making it back to the U.S., from which he was deported a little more than two years ago. On the road, he was greeted by ordinary Mexi cans lending a hand. Catalina Munoz said she bought tor tillas on credit to assemble tacos of beans, cheese and rice when she heard the migrant caravan would pass through Benemerito Juarez, her tiny town of 3,000 inhabit ants. She gathered 15 others to help make the tacos, fill water bottles and carry fruit to weary travelers on the roadside. As migrants began filing into a sports complex in Cor doba, others had already hopped freight trucks to Puebla and even Mexico City. A few arrived at a large out door stadium in the capital and lounged on bleachers a day after divisions beset the ranks of the caravan over which route to take. Some were disappointed after organizers unsuccess fully pleaded for buses after three weeks on the road. Others were angry for being directed northward through Veracruz, calling it the “route of death.” The trek past the state’s sugar fields and fruit groves has taken the majority through a state where hun dreds of migrants have dis appeared in recent years, falling prey to kidnappers looking for ransom pay ments. Authorities there said in September they had discovered remains from at least 174 people buried in clandestine graves, raising questions about whether the bodies belonged to migrants. But even with the group somewhat more scattered, most of the migrants were convinced that traveling as a large mass was their best hope for reaching the U.S. The migrants generally say they are fleeing rampant pov erty, gang violence and politi cal instability primarily in the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. “We think that it is better to continue together with the caravan. We are going to stay with it and respect MARCO UGARTE I Associated Press the organizers,” said Luis Euseda, a 32-year-old from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, trav eling with his wife, Jessica Fugon. “Others went ahead, maybe they have no goal, but we do have a goal and it is to arrive.” Mynor Chavez, a 19-year- old from Copan, Honduras, was determined to continue. “I have no prospects (in Honduras). I graduated as a computer technician and not even with a degree have I been able to find work,” he said of his home country. Mexico faces the unprec edented situation of hav ing three migrant caravans stretched over 300 miles of highway in the states of Chi apas, Oaxaca and Veracruz. On Friday, a caravan from El Salvador waded over the Suchiate River into Mexico, bringing around 1,000 people who want to reach the U.S. border. That caravan ini tially tried to cross the bridge between Guatemala and Mexico, but Mexican authori ties told them they would have to show passports and visas and enter in groups of 50 for processing. Auto Insurance Specialist • Easy Payments • Any Driver • Any Age NEW LOCATION! 2415 OLD CORNELIA HWY., GAINESVILLE Next to Rabbittown Cafe 770-450-4500 senior, ^belk 3 BELK.COM TEACHER & SERVICE A shopping day to say Thank You! Every TUESDAY. Nov 6,13, 20 & 27 | SENIORS 55 & OLDER, ACTIVE MILITARY, VETERANS & TEACHERS | take an extra 20 % OFF sale purchases storewide 15% OFF home & shoes with your Belk Rewards credit card or other form of payment *Show valid ID to any sales associate. Belk Rewards credit card purchases are subject to credit approval. Some exclusions apply. See an associate for details. The Belk Rewards Mastercard is issued by Synchrony Bank pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. EVAN VUCCII Associated Press Supporters of President Donald Trump cheer as he arrives to speak at a campaign rally, Sunday, Nov. 4, in Macon, Ga. Trump says he’s focused on Senate before midterms BY ZEKE MILLER AND JILL COLVIN Associated Press MACON, Ga. — Presi dent Donald Trump appeared to distance him self from the fate of House Republican candidates Sun day as he devotes his final two days before Tuesday’s midterm elections to help ing Senate and gubernato rial candidates. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House en route to get-out-the-vote rallies in Georgia and Ten nessee on Sunday, Trump said Republican enthusi asm is higher than he’s ever seen — but he seemed to dampen expectations for his party in the House. “I think we’re going to do well in the House,” he said of Tuesday’s races. “But, as you know, my primary focus has been on the Sen ate, and I think we’re doing really well in the Senate. ” The comments mark the starkest indication that Trump has grown less optimistic about the GOP’s chances of retaining control of the House, where Repub licans face greater head winds than in the Senate. And they came as Trump’s travels in the closing stretch before midterms that could profoundly change his presidency are largely taking him to traditionally Republican states to cam paign on behalf of statewide candidates. The president’s closing argument to voters was on stark display Sunday as he seeks to motivate compla cent Republican voters to the polls by stoking fears about the prospects of Dem ocratic control. “You want to see Georgia prosperity end?” Trump told the rally crowd in Macon, Georgia. “Vote for the Democrat.” Trump’s remarks included ominous references to the “Antifa” far-left-leaning militant groups and a migrant cara van marching toward the U.S.-Mexico border that he has called an “invasion.” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One that “tremendous crowds” were already awaiting him in both states. He said that enthusiasm was off the charts, though polls have shown Demo crats to have an enthusiasm edge. “The level of fervor, the level of fever is very strong in the Republican side,” said Trump, adding: “I have never seen such excitement. Maybe back in ’16 during the presidential, right around the vote. But I have never seen such an enthusiastic Republican Party.” Trump also pushed back on the idea that the election was a referendum on his presidency and that Demo crats reclaiming the House would be a rebuke of him and his policies. “No, I don’t view this as for myself,” Trump said, before making the case that his campaigning has “made a big difference” in a hand ful of Senate races across the country. “I think I’ve made a dif ference of five or six or seven. That’s a big differ ence,” he said, crediting his rallies for the influence. In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Trump said he would not accept blame for a GOP defeat at the polls. “These rallies are the best thing we’ve done. I think that the rallies have really been the thing that’s caused this whole big fervor to start and to continue,” he said. Trump has had a busy campaign schedule in the final stretch of the race, with 11 rallies over six days — including two planned Sunday and three Mon day in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. In the final stretch Trump has brought out spe cial guests to join him on the campaign trail. Coun try singer Lee Greenwood will be performing Trump favorite “God Bless the U.S.A.” in Chattanooga as well as in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on Monday. FOR YOUR FAVORITES 10.29.18 - 11.30.18
