Chaotic Scene as Migrants Reach Mexico/Guatemala Border
CABRERA: Breaking news and some images of the Mexico border, where thousands of Honduran migrants are continuing their journey to the United States. And CNN special correspondent, Bill Weir, is traveling alongside what is being called a caravan now at the Mexican border and joins us by phone. Bill, are Mexican officials letting these migrants pass through?</s>BILL WEIR, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): No, Ana, they are not, despite literally a wave of humanity that essentially broke open the gates of Mexico. We're on a bridge that separates Guatemala from the southern tip of Mexico here. There's about 400 riot policemen, fedralis, and for some reason, on the Guatemalan side, behind a 20-foot steel fence that had been padlocked shut, the authorities on the Guatemalan side, let in this huge sea of humanity, children, toddlers. They came streaming up to the fence. At first, they tried to form a single-form line because they were told they'd be let in one at a time in a humane, orderly way. But the crowd was too powerful. They pushed against it and broke open the padlock and were greeted by the cops. The policemen are forcing the gates back after firing either smoke canisters -- I didn't smell tear gas. But an incredibly frightening scene to be in the middle of this scrum of people. Now people have backed off, there's a little more space and you can see all the shoes that have been lost in the trample. There's a man in front of me suffering from heat stroke, maybe having a heart attack. It's so hard to tell. The majority of the crowd is from Honduras. In fact, they're waving Honduras flags. Most of the people I've talked to say they just are so desperate that they have no other choice than to come north and look for work. Some told me they were hoping to find jobs in Mexico and some say they're coming to the United States. I asked if they were deterred by President Trump, by separating families, and they said they have no choice. Some say they'd be willing to stay on streets for months if that's what it takes. This is obviously a huge test for the new president and how he can encourage the new Mexican government in transition, takes over in December, who has a much more humane, sympathetic attitude toward Central American migrants than his predecessor. But so far, it looks like Mexico is holding the line here at this river -- Ana?</s>CABRERA: We did know that Mexico had isn't troops to the southern border, but they said it was to provide aid and to care for migrants. I'm quoting, "in an orderly manner and full respect for the human rights of migrants." It sounds like what you're describing, Bill, is chaos.</s>WEIR: Yes, and it's hard to -- oh, no, whoa, whoa, whoa. Somebody just threw -- maybe it was water bottle. People literally scattered in panic thinking it was smoke. False alarm. This is really just an exercise in crowd control. Imagine if they threw open the gates to a concert, as we've learned that lesson in years past and people are trampled. That's what happened when they opened up the Guatemalan side. Oh, tear gas. Tear gas. The canister landed literally two feet from me. No, no, no, no, don't throw rocks! Oh.</s>CABRERA: Bill, if you need to go, we understand. We understand if you need to go. Stay safe.</s>WEIR: All right. I got to get to safety. I'll check back in.</s>CABRERA: Get to safety. We'll take a break and let you get where you need to go. Please do be careful out there. Bill Weir reporting from the Mexico border, the border with Guatemala, the southern border, traveling with this caravan trying to make their way to the United States. They've now been confronted at that southern border in Mexico. As Bill was just describing, speaking with us, it sounds like there has been tear gas now deployed to try to do some kind of crowd control. We'll check back in with Bill as we get an opportunity to talk to him, make sure he stays safe, and find out more about what the situation is. In the meantime, I want to tell you what's happening at the University of Southern California. The university is now tentatively offering a $215 million settlement with former patients of a university gynecologist after 93 more women came forward with allegations. We have the latest on the accusations and the lawsuits just ahead.