President Donald Trump's tough stance on illegal immigration was put to the test on Saturday when over 1,300 Hondurans partook in the "March of the Migrant," a walk from San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras through Guatemala and into Mexico. Once the group reached Mexico they planned to request refugee status so they could stay in Mexico or a visa so they could continue on to the United States, Reuters reported.
The march comes days after Vice President Mike Pence met with the presidents of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. During the meeting Pence reiterated that the U.S. was prepared to help with economic development and investment. In return, the U.S. expected Central American countries to tackle migration, corruption and gang violence.
According to Reuters, more than 64 percent of Hondurans live in poverty and San Pedro Sula, one of the country's main transportation hubs, has one of the highest murder rates in the world.
“There is no work and so much violence that you can get killed walking down the street,” 25-year-old Javier Solis told Reuters.
Solive has been unemployed for a year and wants to eventually end up in the United States. When he previously attempted a similar journey he was deported back to Honduras once he reached Mexico.
For 35-year-old teach Fanny Barahona, an unemployed teacher with two kids, the fear of death is very real.
“I believe we’ll get to the United States. There’s no work in Honduras, and you live in fear that they’re going to kill you or your children,” Barahona said.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said money from the United States is dwindling. Hernandez also chided President Trump for separating migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border, something he says put Honduras under "huge pressure."
It remains unclear what happened to the group once they reached the Mexico border.