Over 600 migrants are advancing through Mexico in a caravan aiming for the U.S. border. This journey began in Honduras as the Trump administration tightens migration policies ahead of midterm elections.
On September 20, around 200 to 400 Honduran migrants departed from San Pedro Sula, initially traveling in small groups towards the Guatemala border, as reported by Spanish news agency EFE. By Monday, September 28, the caravan, known as “Fe y Esperanza”—”Faith and Hope” in English—expanded to over 600 migrants. This group resumed traveling from Tapachula, located in southern Mexico, toward the U.S. northern border. It includes nationals from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Haiti.
This movement occurs amid President Donald Trump’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration. These measures have significantly reduced unauthorized crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. Since his return to office in January 2025, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border. He deployed active-duty military personnel and National Guard members to aid border operations, established stringent restrictions on asylum access, and adopted a policy of detaining and deporting migrants instead of releasing them into the United States.
Under these measures, border crossings have dropped markedly. The Department of Homeland Security reports that U.S. Border Patrol made 8,870 apprehensions along the southwest border in August 2026. This figure represents a 94% decrease compared to the monthly average under the Biden administration. Moreover, DHS noted that the Border Patrol did not release any migrants into the country that month, maintaining a streak of zero releases for 16 consecutive months.
Meanwhile, asylum access at the southern border has been significantly restricted. On his first day back in office, Trump issued a proclamation intended to prevent migrants covered by the order from seeking asylum and other protections. Although facing ongoing litigation, the policy remains contentious.
Despite the situation, the caravan is still hundreds of miles from the U.S. border. It remains uncertain how many individuals will ultimately reach northern Mexico or attempt to cross into the United States. Historically, migrant caravans often do not reach the U.S. border as organized entities. Mexican authorities frequently intercept and disperse northbound caravans, sometimes detaining migrants or transporting them elsewhere within Mexico.
Migrants interviewed by EFE cited economic struggles as their reason for leaving Honduras. One woman, traveling with her two children, mentioned the lack of employment opportunities. Another migrant acknowledged the difficulty in reaching the United States but expressed his determination to try.
Honduran nationals can enter Guatemala without a visa due to the CA-4 regional agreement. However, Mexico’s National Migration Institute states that Honduran nationals usually require a visa to enter Mexico, with certain exceptions.
EFE reported that the caravan arrived in Tapachula on the previous Thursday with around 300 people. The group grew as migrants already in southern Mexico joined it. Therefore, the current group of over 600 individuals traveling through Mexico should not be identified solely as the original Honduran migrants who left San Pedro Sula.
U.S. officials have cautioned migrants against attempting unlawful entry into the United States. On September 21, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa posted on X, stating, “the borders of the United States are closed to those who violate the law.” It urged individuals not to risk their lives or that of their families by undertaking the perilous journey north and advised against trusting human traffickers.
The Department of Homeland Security responded to the caravan on X, sharing a video post stating “Our time has come,” accompanied by a sports hype reel set to a Korn song.
The caravan has triggered political responses in the United States, with Republicans using its emergence to highlight concerns about border security and immigration ahead of November’s midterm elections. South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican, commented on X that migrants were betting on the prospect of a Democrat Congress in November and urged voters against providing them one.
Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene questioned the caravan’s timing, accusing Republicans of highlighting the issue to sway voters. On X, Greene noted the absence of caravans headed toward the U.S. southern border in recent years and suggested the timing might relate to the upcoming elections and the GOP’s efforts to influence voting.
José Zelaya, a Honduran migrant from San Pedro Sula, shared with EFE that he began his journey with seven family members on September 20. Zelaya expressed the desire to reach the United States partly to provide financial assistance to relatives left behind.
Zelaya dismissed the idea that anyone was leading the migrants, emphasizing that “hunger” and “necessity” were the sole motivators guiding the group.
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