Thousands of migrants in the caravan turned down Mexico’s offer to get benefits and apply for refugee status, keep marching to the US border

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

• Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto offered shelter, medical attention, schooling, jobs to Central Americans traveling in a caravan through his country, calling it a first step toward permanent refugee status.
• Authorities said more than 1,700 had already applied for refugee status.
• But several thousand turned down Nieto’s offer, continuing their march to the US border.

ARRIAGA, Mexico (AP) — Hundreds of Mexican federal officers carrying plastic shields blocked a Central American caravan from advancing toward the United States on Saturday, after a group of several thousand migrants turned down the chance to apply for refugee status and obtain a Mexican offer of benefits.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has announced what he called the “You are at home” plan, offering shelter, medical attention, schooling and jobs to Central Americans in Chiapas and Oaxaca states if migrants apply, calling it a first step toward permanent refugee status. Authorities said more than 1,700 had already applied for refugee status.

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