Caravan of Over 600 Migrants Travels Through Mexico

More than 600 migrants are on a journey north through Mexico, heading for the U.S. border. The group started their trek in Honduras amidst stricter immigration controls by the Trump administration ahead of the November midterms.

The caravan began on September 20, with 200 to 400 Honduran migrants departing from San Pedro Sula in smaller groups towards Guatemala’s border, according to the Spanish news agency EFE. By September 28, a caravan named “Fe y Esperanza,” meaning “Faith and Hope,” had grown to over 600 migrants as it continued traveling from Tapachula, located in southern Mexico, towards the northern border of Mexico with the United States. The caravan includes migrants from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Haiti.

This movement occurs while President Donald Trump has been intensifying measures against illegal immigration, reducing unlawful border crossings. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, deployed active-duty military and National Guard troops, imposed strict restrictions on asylum access, and pursued detaining and removing migrants crossing illegally.

These actions have led to a decline in border crossings. The U.S. Border Patrol reported 8,870 apprehensions along the southwest border in August 2026, a drop of 94 percent compared to the monthly average during the Biden administration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the Border Patrol released no migrants into the U.S. during that month, marking 16 consecutive months of zero releases.

Newsweek has reached out to the White House, DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Mexico’s government for comments.

The access to asylum at the southern border has significantly decreased. Trump introduced a proclamation on his first day back in office to prevent migrants covered by the order from seeking asylum and other protections, although this policy is facing ongoing legal challenges.

The caravan remains hundreds of miles from the U.S. border, and it’s uncertain how many individuals in the current group will ultimately reach northern Mexico or attempt entry into the U.S. Previous caravans have often been intercepted or dispersed by Mexican authorities, which sometimes detain migrants or transport them to other areas in Mexico.

Migrants interviewed by EFE expressed economic hardship as a reason for leaving Honduras. A woman traveling with two children reported a lack of work opportunities in the country. Another migrant acknowledged the difficulty in reaching the U.S. but remained determined to try.

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Guatemala’s Institute of Migration allows Honduran nationals to enter Guatemala without a visa under the CA-4 regional agreement, while Mexico’s National Migration Institute generally requires a visa from Honduran nationals unless certain exemptions apply.

EFE noted that the group arrived in Tapachula the previous Thursday with about 300 people and later increased as migrants already in southern Mexico joined. Therefore, the caravan of over 600 people currently traveling through Mexico should not be solely seen as the same Honduran migrants who initially departed from San Pedro Sula.

U.S. authorities have cautioned migrants against illegal entry attempts into the United States.

On September 21, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa posted on X: “The borders of the United States are closed to those who violate the law. Do not risk your life or that of your family by undertaking the dangerous journey to the north. Do not believe the lies of human traffickers. If you attempt to enter the United States illegally, you will be deported.”

The Department of Homeland Security also responded to the caravan with a video post on X, stating “Our time has come” accompanied by a sports hype reel featuring a Korn song.

The caravan has sparked political reactions in the U.S., where Republicans have highlighted border security and immigration issues as the November midterms approach.

Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, commented on X, “They’re not betting on crossing Trump’s border. They’re betting on a Democrat Congress in November. Don’t give them one.” Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene questioned the caravan’s timing, accusing Republicans of using the issue to influence voters.

“We have not seen a caravan headed to the U.S. southern border in several years, why now?” Greene wrote on X. “Oh yeah, there is an election coming and the GOP needs to scare you into voting because nothing else is working,” she added.

José Zelaya, a Honduran migrant from San Pedro Sula, told EFE he left with seven family members on September 20, aiming to reach the United States to financially support relatives he had left. Zelaya dismissed claims that migrants were directed by anyone, stating the group’s motivation was “hunger” and “necessity.”

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and James Debens.