Eight members of the Central American caravan of migrants traveling to the U.S.-Mexican border were allowed to enter the U.S. and apply for asylum Monday night.
The eight migrants, all women and children, entered the U.S. at the San Ysidro port of entry, which is a western entry point where Mexico shares a border with California, Reuters reported.
Hours after Vice President Mike Pence said the migrants seeking asylum would be processed in line with U.S. law, they were able to enter U.S. territory.
The caravan of migrants from Central American countries has drawn the attention of President Trump, who has in response sent National Guardsmen to patrol the border as a substitute for impending border wall legislation and funding. But while the caravan was as large as 1,100 people in the center of Mexico, only a few dozen made it to the U.S. border.
Reuters noted that only about one fourth of claims made by Central American asylum seekers are successful, and the three fourths that are unsuccessful usually result in detention and deportation.
