First caravan of migrants arrives in Mexico City as US soldiers lay barbed wire at border

The first of several caravans of Central American migrants traveling to the United States to seek asylum has reached Mexico City.

Hundreds of caravan members arrived in the Mexican capital over the weekend. About 450 people were temporarily accommodated in a sports stadium in Mexico City.

The convoy, which saw its number reach more than 7,000 at one point, now includes up to 5,000 members, mainly from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Honduran migrants heading to the United States stop in a temporary shelter at a sports complex in Mexico City on November 4. The administration of President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of thousands of army soldiers to the US border in anticipation of the arrival of several caravans of migrants heading to the United States ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP / Getty

The caravan's progress in its path to the US border brings its members 580 miles from the nearest port of entry at Hidalgo, near McAllen, Texas.

However, it is still unclear what route the members of the caravan intend to take. If they choose to follow in the footsteps of a previous caravan that arrived at San Ysidro's San Diego, California, entry port in April, the distance to be covered could more than double.

Currently, there are at least four caravans of Central American migrants heading to the US border to seek asylum. Many Central American migrants traveling with caravans hope to seek asylum in the United States, faced with the political and economic instability that reigns in their home country and the threat of gang violence.

US Army soldiers stop in the heat as they thread razor wires near the US-Mexico border port on November 4th in Donna, Texas. The Trump administration has ordered the deployment of thousands of soldiers to the US-Mexico border in anticipation of the arrival of Central American caravans heading for the United States to seek asylum. John Moore / Getty

However, President Donald Trump has promised to prevent them from moving to the United States. His government decided to deploy thousands of soldiers to the border in anticipation of the arrival of the first caravan, which the US leader described as an invasion. "

On Sunday, US Army soldiers were photographed in razor wire around an entry point on the US-Mexico border in Donna, Texas. Troops were invited to play a supporting role at the border for the most part by assisting border services officers in their efforts.

Migrants traveling with the first caravan to the United States began arriving in Mexico City, placing them about 580 miles from the nearest US entry point in the McAllen, Texas area. Google Maps / SIO / NOAA / U.S. Marine / NGA / GEBCO / Landsat / Copernicus / LDEO-Columbia / NSF Data

The president also recently announced plans to sign an order that could lead to large-scale detention of migrants crossing the southern border, as well as prohibiting anyone illegally taken into the US from seeking asylum.

Read more: Caravan migrants prepare for trial against Trump administration in United States for violation of rights

Migrants heading to the United States have started a lawsuit accusing Trump and his administration of violating their rights, while critics, including former President Barack Obama, accused the president and his government of being in violation of their rights. exploit the situation as a "political coup" before the mid-term elections on Tuesday.

The president denied allegations that he was exploiting the issue in order to dissuade voters from real problems before mid-term, saying earlier this month that he had "fought" for frontiers be strong "before" to have considered running for office. "