Mexico says 7,800 Haitians crossed through country this year

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Mexico City • Mexican immigration authorities say a total of 7,800 Haitian migrants have entered the country through Guatemala so far this year in a bid to reach the United States.

The country's National Immigration Institute said 1,701 migrants from Africa and 3,753 from various Asian countries have also been processed through the Tapachula immigration center on the Guatemalan border.

The Institute said Saturday that none of the Haitian, African and Asian migrants have requested permission to stay in Mexico "because they have expressed that their desire is to reach the United States."

The migrants cannot be sent back to their home countries, Mexico says, because none have embassies or consulates in Mexico. So Mexico gives them 20-day temporary visas so they can cross the country and get to the U.S.