Editor’s note: The views expressed by guest columnists are not necessarily those of The Costa Rica Star, its advertisers, or its staff

There’s a Cat-5 political tropical storm approaching the USA-Mexico border from the south, moving slowly north toward Tijuana expected to arrive in a few weeks.

A group of about 1,500 men, women and children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are headed to the Mexican border at Tijuana seeking asylum in the United States of America in an apparent move to confront the Trump administration and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement. The group – described mostly as families — fled their Central American countries due to violence, guns, gangs, drugs and resulting poverty.  There has been no mention of any Costa Rican nationals involved in this ‘migrant march’ to the USA.

However, on Easter Sunday President Donald Trump acknowledged that “caravans” of illegal immigrants are headed to the USA-Mexico border. Both CBS and ABC also began covering this ‘impending’ story on Monday morning.

Mexican authorities are not standing in the way allowing safe passage through southern Mexico plus transportation, housing and food along the way. They know there’s a political skirmish coming and Mexico will play this for all the political gain they can muster.

“Known as the “Viacrucis Migrante 2018”, the caravan began on March 25 in the state of Chiapas and is expected to reach Tijuana within a month where members of the group are expected to request refugee status from the U.S. Government,” wrote Breitbart reporter Ildefonso Ortiz. “The caravan is organized by the immigrant rights group “Pueblo Sin Fronteras” who have been posting (on social media) updates about the caravan’s journey through Mexico.”

It’s no secret Mexico maintains a strong southern border with the state of Chiapas and Guatemala, but apparently this undocumented group is being allowed into Mexico and aided in their plight to reach the USA and attempt to force themselves upon the American people. At the USA-Mexico border Mexico will gladly open the door to the USA but ICE officials on the other side are sure to be standing in the way. This confrontation will more than likely be heavily covered by mainstream media.

This group is comprised of men, women and children seeking a better life, not MS-13 gang thugs or other undesirables – real families with real needs. But why isn’t Mexico finding them safe havens, jobs, housing and health benefits with food stamps? This developing situation is a rigged-set-up in the making.

Ever since President Trump took office he has been working to build a secure border wall with Mexico to keep out illegals, drug shipments and etc. News reports say the president’s recent signing of the $1.3-trillion six-month government spending bill will provide all the money needed to build the USA-Mexico wall by claiming the wall to be a matter of national defense. This move by the president — in the name of ‘national defense’ — is not unprecedented, however it is rare. By doing so, President Trump circumvents the U.S. Congress and their failure to provide meaningful, timely funding for the border wall.

Mexico has been steadfast in their opposition to the border wall and Trump’s claim that Mexico will pay for the wall in the long run. By allowing this group passage through Mexico, they are encouraging a potentially violent situation to break out possibly resulting in the deaths of innocent men, women and children. Just how out-of-hand could things get? These people with hopes and dreams may be sadly disappointed as ICE denies all of them ‘refugee status’ and a standoff begins. Photographs show the group walking through Mexico carrying back backs and children on their way to the USA border. Still other photos show the group riding atop freight-train-fuel cars though the Mexican countryside.

This situation could backfire on Mexico, ICE and or the Trump administration. Whatever happens when this ‘caravan’ of souls reaches the USA-Mexico border mainstream media will be covering this staged event like another mass shooting in America.

Mexico and this immigration rights group — Pueblo Sin Fronteras – must be hoping for a major confrontation with ICE over the USA’s new anti-immigration policies and closing the Mexican border.

“We accompany migrants and refugees in their journey of hope and together demand our human rights,” says Pueblo Sin Fronteras in their mission statement published on their website. “Our dream is to build solidarity bridges among peoples and turndown border walls imposed by greed.”

Yes sirree, there’s a storm abrewin’ on the southern border and it could be a rough one.

About the Author Britt Nelson relocated to Costa Rica in 2011 from Florida, where he served as news editor for the Palatka Daily News, a newspaper owned by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group (NYT-RNG) for 20 years.

Nelson served the NYT-RNG for 18 years in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida as a correspondent, reporter, staff writer, senior staff writer training new reporters, copy editor, page designer, editorial writer, editorial page editor and editorial board member.