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Migrant adults and children whooped and splashed around at Playas De Tijuana, located right next to the border fence on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. Erin Siegal McIntyre/KQED
Migrant adults and children whooped and splashed around at Playas De Tijuana, located right next to the border fence on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. (Erin Siegal McIntyre/KQED)

Central American Migrants Arriving in Tijuana Find Rest, Relief at a Beach, Then Hostility

Central American Migrants Arriving in Tijuana Find Rest, Relief at a Beach, Then Hostility

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KQED’s Sasha Khohka is filing stories from Tijuana, Mexico, where thousands of Central American migrants are expected to arrive in the coming days.

Hundreds of Central American migrants started arriving in Tijuana, Mexico on Wednesday, and many of them headed to the beach as a way to celebrate the end of their journey, to take in views of the ocean and to get cleaned up.

At Playas de Tijuana, dozens of adults and children whooped and splashed around in the chilly Pacific Ocean right next to the tall border fence, a welcome release after days of walking and riding the buses and trucks.

Carlos Celaya, 17, is from Honduras stands at Playas De Tijuana on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. He says he made the journey to the U.S. - Mexico border because he wanted to get away from violence back home. (Erin Siegal McIntyre/KQED)

Carlos Celaya, 17, ducked under the waves then rolled on the beach with some younger kids making snow angels in the the sand.

They are among the first group of migrants to arrive, part of the estimated thousands who are making their way through Mexico to reach the U.S. border. Many say they are fleeing violence and poverty and hope to seek asylum in the U.S.

“Honduras is dangerous especially for young men,” said Celaya.

Celaya said he was pressured repeatedly to join a gang and threatened with violence if he didn't. So, he and his brothers set off for California, a place he'd only seen in the movies until he finally caught a glimpse of it through the fence. He said he wanted to find a phone to tell his mom he's safe.

Down the beach, Natalie Osorio, 33, sat on her tiny backpack and a neatly folded blanket, all she'd carried with her from her home in rural Honduras. After three nights without sleep she could hardly keep her eyes open. Osorio said she and other single women protected each other along the way. She said she’s glad she left her two kids at home after watching so many moms struggling with children on the journey.

“After everything it took to get here it would be a tragedy to be deported back to Honduras,” said Osorio.

Natalie Osorio arrived in Tijuana after making the journey from rural Honduras. She's among the hundreds of Central American migrants who started arriving in Tijuana, Mexico on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. (Erin Siegal McIntyre/KQED)

The future is unclear for migrants like Celaya and Osorio.

The Trump administration recently tightened rules for those seeking asylum. And thousands of troops were deployed to the border to set up razor wire and barriers in anticipation of the migrants’ arrival.

Despite these obstacles, migrants had a more pressing issue to sort out Wednesday night — where to sleep.

Celaya and his brother planned to camp at the beach. But as day turned to night, clashes were reported between Tijuana residents and the migrants.

The locals who were at the beach reportedly sang the Mexican anthem, waved Mexican flags and demanded that the migrants go to an official shelter.

There were also reports of pushing shoving and punching as the residents and migrants clashed and the confrontation lasted a few hours. Local and federal police were present to maintain peace.

Tijuana authorities opened up a stadium Wednesday night and offered to bus people there from the beach. Officials say the stadium can fit about 1,700 people.

As many as 4,000 more people are expected to arrive over the next few days, many are arriving by bus.

Beylin Rios and her husband Rolando Arce take a dip in the Pacific Ocean with their clothes on. The two were among the hundreds of Central American migrants who arrived in Tijuana this week. Rios said she brought very little with her, as she traveled to the U.S. - Mexico border, just a pair of Virgin of Guadalupe earrings and a necklace to protect her.

Marnette Federis contributed to this report.

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