Last weekend, more than 200 Central American immigrants arrived in Tijuana in the caravan known as "immigrant viacrucis," with the intention of seeking political asylum in the United States. Unfortunately, a request that was denied to the 80 people who decided to apply.

The immigrants considered that they had plenty of reasons to ask for political asylum, having fled they from the violence that plagues their countries, to which many of them are afraid to return due to the uncertainty of being attacked as well.

Irineo Mujica, an immigrant activist who accompanied the caravan from the southern border of Mexico, was sorry that the petition of many of them was denied, since there is a great risk to the integrity of these families who traveled more than 3,000 miles to reach/ask for asylum.

Another large part of the caravan that arrived in Tijuana decided not to continue with the idea of ​​the asylum request in the USA given the immigration rhetoric from the new president, Donald Trump and his harsher policies.

Enrique Morones, founder of Border Angels, commented to the Frontera newspaper that the situation regarding asylum claims has always been difficult and that immigrants were aware of that.

So far, the exact number of immigrants who remain in the different shelters and motels in the city is unknown, as well as whether they will seek asylum in Mexico or embark on an illegal trip to the United States.

Follow San Diego Red on Facebook and Twitter.

Translated by: cristina.mora@sandiegored.com