Caravan of Honduran migrants increases to 4,000 at the time of the increase in the number of US border crossings

WASHINGTON – A caravan of migrants fleeing Honduras has increased to 4,000 and the Mexican government has sent an additional 500 federal police to its border with Guatemala in anticipation of their arrival, according to US government documents obtained by NBC News.

Part of the caravan, which has split into two groups, is now approaching the border between Mexico and Guatemala as border crossings between the United States and Mexico increase.

In September, US Border Patrol agents apprehended more than 41,400 undocumented immigrants, up from 37,544 in August, according to figures not yet published but obtained by NBC News. The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the number of families and children traveling alone reached record levels in September.

Shelters and churches along the border have been inundated as a result of the upsurge in the activities of immigration agents and US customs officials who have released hundreds of migrants at a time.

Most Hondurans who travel in the caravan are children, some traveling with their parents and others without their parents, according to the documents. Because children enjoy special protections in the United States, their arrival creates anxiety within the Trump administration, which is committed to reducing illegal immigration. President Donald Trump said last week that he would consider separating migrant families back from the border after reversing his controversial "zero tolerance" policy in June.

Customs and US border protection follow the caravan as Hondurans head north to the US border. At the same time, the State Department is trying to avoid this possibility by forcing the Mexican government to arrest them at the border with Guatemala.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Mexico to meet his counterparts on Friday, where plans to stop the caravan will be a "major" topic of discussion, said a senior State Department official who said spoke to reporters Wednesday.

"I'm sure there will be discussions in Mexico on how we can work together on this issue," said the caravan manager. "We are definitely looking for concrete results and solutions that work for both countries."

Trump has threatened to cut aid to Honduras and Guatemala if their governments do not stop the caravan. It remains to be seen what pressure the United States will exert on Mexico, but a senior DHS official said border officials were hoping that State Department negotiations would significantly reduce the number of people reaching the United States.

Police were sent in part to calm protesters in the state of Chiapas, bordering Guatemala, who are campaigning for safe treatment of immigrants, according to the documents. Cooperation with the United States on strict border policy has sparked strong reactions in Mexico and contributed to the election of the new president, Andres Obrador.