Thousands of Central American caravan riders on Friday refused Mexico's offer of providing asylum status to those immigrants who applied and qualified. They vowed to continue their trek north to the United States around dawn on Saturday, NBC News reported.
Under the plan, dubbed Estas en Tu Casa plan (translated to "This is Your Home"), asylum seekers would be given identifying documentation, jobs for adults and school for kids. The only catch was that they would have to stay in Mexico's two southernmost states of Chiapas and Oaxaca.
The caravan riders to decided to turn down Mexico's offer, saying they've trekked too far to stop before reaching the United States.
"Thank you! No, we're heading north!" they shouted as they trekked on, the Associated Press reported.
Our goal is not to remain in Mexico," Honduran Oscar Sosa, 58, said. "Our goal is to make it to the (U.S). We want passage, that's all."
Although Mexico is allowing the caravan to pass through, the government has not provided them with food, water, shelter or bathrooms. Those luxuries are saved for those who decide to turn themselves in.
"Authorities were also cracking down on smaller groups trying to catch up with the main caravan, detaining about 300 Hondurans and Guatemalans as they walked along a highway after crossing the Mexico border illegally, said an official with the national immigration authority," NBC News reported.
The caravan still has a ways to travel before reaching the United States-Mexico border. If they decide to try and enter through McAllen, Texas, they will have a 1,000 mile journey remaining. If they choose San Diego as their point of entry they're looking at another 2,000 miles.