Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba Delayed at Mexican/USA Border

Update: Caravanista Gerry Bill called at 5:24 pst, 7:24 Reynosa time, to say that the Mexican authorities had conceded and will allow the caravan to pass through Mexico without the need to pay the tourist fee. Gerry and others are now being driven, by Mexican supporters, back to the US/Mexico border where they'll pick up the rest of the caravanistas, spend the night in Reynosa, and begin the long drive to Tampico tomorrow morning. In Tampico, the 100+ tons of aid will be loaded onto shipping containers and the caravanistas will fly directly to Havana to spend a week in Cuba learning about their revolution.  

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July 20th, 5:15 pm pst

Over 100 caravanistas, US-Americans, Canadians, and Europeans among them, are currently delayed at the Mexican border. From over 100 tons of humanitarian aid, US Customs and Border Patrol seized 7 computers as the caravan left the United States. The caravan continued across the border into Mexico anticipating that those stolen computers can be retrieved on the return journey.

But Mexican authorities are now attempting to enforce a law that requires tourists and travellers pay $22 each to visit their country, which would amount to about $2200 for the caravanistas. IFCO/Pastors for Peace Board Member, Fr. Luis Barrios, PhD, is negotiating with the Mexican authorities, arguing that Pastors for Peace have never paid this fee, they're not tourists, they're merely passing through the country with humanitarian aid destined for Cuba.


Approximately 50 caravanistas are currently demonstrating, alongside Mexican supporters, with banners and chants at the Mexican Immigration office in Reynosa. Mexican television media is at the scene, which has been underway for about four hours.

Gerry Bill, a veteran caravanista, and one of the protestors at the Mexican Immigration Office, explained "the Mexicans searched through the [humanitarian] aid we're carrying, and didn't have any problems with it. They have issued the licenses for the buses, the bus drivers have been given visas, but the decision to charge this fee for all the other caravanistas is a decision that was made by officers with more authority than those at the border .... which is why we're at the main immigration office in Reynosa."

Mexican officials have attempted to collect this fee in the recent years, but it's a relatively new phenomenon considering the caravan has travelling this way for 22 years. It has not been established whether the Mexican authorities will attempt to again collect this $22/person fee when the Caravanistas return from Cuba, and travel back to the US through Mexico later this month.

The caravan's departure was delayed this morning due to mechanical challenges with the buses, and then on the USA side of the border as the aid was checked and the seven computers seized. It's now early evening in Reynosa, but Caravanistas are prepared to continue their protest as long as is necessary.

Caravan supporters are invited to contact their Mexican Embassies to demand that the caravan and the humanitarian aid be allowed to pass through Mexico without further delay.

In the USA:

Mexico Embassy , United States

1911 Pennsylvania Avenue
20006
Washington
District of Columbia
USA
Phone:
+1-202-728-1600
Fax:
+1-202-728-1698
+1-202-883-4320
Email:
mexembusa@sre.gob.mx
Website URL:
www.embassyofmexico.org
http://www.sre.gob.mx/eua


In Canada:

Mexican Embassy / Consulate in British Columbia
Vancouver
710-1177 West Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. V6E 2K3
Tel: (604) 684-1859 * Fax: (604) 684-2485

Mexican Embassy / Consulate in Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa (Embassy of Mexico)
45 O'Connor Suite 1500, Ottawa, Ont. K1P 1A4
Tel: (613) 233 8988 * Fax: (613) 235 9123
Classification: Embassy / Consulate of Mexico.

Mexican Embassy / Consulate in Toronto
199 Bay St., Suite 4440, Commerce Court West
Toronto, Ont. M5L 1E9
Tel: (416) 368-1847 * Fax: (416) 368-8141
Classification: Embassy / Consulate of Mexico.

Mexican Embassy / Consulate in Quebec
Montreal
2000 Mansfield St. Suite 1015, Montreal, Que. H3A 2Z7
Tel: (514) 288-2502 * Fax: (514) 288-8287


For updates and information visit the Pastors for Peace website.