(Update at end) The illegal migrant caravan is sweeping through Chiapas in southern Mexico on Sunday, their numbers having jumped to over 7,000 overnight from just a few thousand as it became apparent the caravan would not be stopped by Mexico. After blocking the migrants on a bridge Friday, Mexican officials allowed the migrants to swim and raft across the Suchiate River from Guatemala into Mexico Saturday and then regroup in a riverside park. Mexico also allowed over 600 women and children to legally enter for processing on Saturday.

Imparables el gigantesco tren humano de la caravana de #Migrantes ya caminaron 20 kilómetros bajo intenso sol en la carretera fronteriza, con destino al primer punto en la ruta #Tapachula @AztecaNoticias @JPSolisM pic.twitter.com/ATVGrmRkla — Pedro Gerardo lopez (@pedrogerardo26) October 21, 2018

Reports from the caravan state that on two occasions Mexican federal police stood in formation to meet the caravan as the migrants staged a massive march up a highway. As the migrants approached both times the Mexican police stood down and let them pass. A Mexican official was reported to have said they can’t stop 7,200 people.

Kate Linthicum with the Los Angeles Times reported on the two failed attempts to stop the caravan Sunday: “I’m only just realizing the massive scale of this caravan as they march north into Mexico. It’s several thousand people. Just look…A group of immigration agents stopped the caravan to ask them to apply for asylum in Mexico. The caravan blew past them…The caravan just swept past a large contingent of Mexican federal police, who didn’t do anything to stop them…”

I’m only just realizing the massive scale of this caravan as they march north into Mexico. It’s several thousand people. Just look. pic.twitter.com/aRuoLNYTZg — Kate Linthicum (@katelinthicum) October 21, 2018

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A group of immigration agents stopped the caravan to ask them to apply for asylum in Mexico. The caravan blew past them. — Kate Linthicum (@katelinthicum) October 21, 2018

The caravan just swept past a large contingent of Mexican federal police, who didn’t do anything to stop them. — Kate Linthicum (@katelinthicum) October 21, 2018

Mexican police under orders to block the caravan, are massed in the only road heading north from the border. pic.twitter.com/TbxXzVktUb — Kate Linthicum (@katelinthicum) October 21, 2018

Moments later, hundreds of police returned to their busses. All day, they have blocked the road, then retreated. “There’s no plan,” one says https://t.co/6C7LssBxiq — Kate Linthicum (@katelinthicum) October 21, 2018

Buzzfeed’s Karla Zabbs reported the increased numbers in the caravan cited by Mexican authorities, “Federal Migration Commissioner: ppl will be taken to a shelter and won’t be able to leave the state of Chiapas till their visas are processed (but impossible to stop 7,200+ ppl).” (Zabbs also took a cheap shot at President Trump: “Wish you could feel heat through Twitter. Everyone looks like they just walked out of the shower (87F and a sun that feels as vicious as Trump).”) :

MIGRANT CARAVAN: They’ve started walking up on the highway in Chiapas, southern Mexico. Officials say it’s more than 7,200 people. pic.twitter.com/1ddlQCgCwZ — KarlaZabs (@karlazabs) October 21, 2018

Federal Migration Commissioner: ppl will be taken to a shelter and won’t be able to leave the state of Chiapas till their visas are processed (but impossible to stop 7,200+ ppl). — KarlaZabs (@karlazabs) October 21, 2018

Riot police tell me they’ve been ordered to stop the caravan. There are more than 100 of them. pic.twitter.com/wuoFDIuIg4 — KarlaZabs (@karlazabs) October 21, 2018

Reporter James Fredrick, “Federal police commission just said their presence here is to give “safe and orderly passage to shelters in Tapachula”. So why the 200 officers in Riot gear? No answer. The # caravanamigrantes continues”

Federal police commission just said their presence here is to give “safe and orderly passage to shelters in Tapachula”. So why the 200 officers in Riot gear? No answer. The #caravanamigrantes continues — James Fredrick (@jameslfredrick) October 21, 2018

Fredrick added some observations on how Mexico is handling the migrant caravan, “The caravan is well over 5,000 people. Mexico’s refugee agency processed 4,475 asylum requests in all of 2017. Does Mexico really think it’s going to try to process all these people through asylum system?”…”Very strange situation with police and # CaravanaDelMigrante. On the border, they aggressively blocked bridge while watching caravan cross river. This morning, hundreds set up in highway to block caravan…then left. Feels like they hope Trump is only seeing certain images”

Very strange situation with police and #CaravanaDelMigrante. On the border, they aggressively blocked bridge while watching caravan cross river. This morning, hundreds set up in highway to block caravan…then left. Feels like they hope Trump is only seeing certain images https://t.co/aS5rB0Sp7z — James Fredrick (@jameslfredrick) October 21, 2018

The caravan is well over 5,000 people. Mexico’s refugee agency processed 4,475 asylum requests in all of 2017. Does Mexico really think it’s going to try to process all these people through asylum system? https://t.co/iVQl9vu7u5 — James Fredrick (@jameslfredrick) October 21, 2018

Police helicopter has been circling #caravanamigrantes all day. Several surveillance trucks. Hundreds of officers. Federal police commissioner says they’re there to give “safe and orderly passage” to shelters in Tapachula. pic.twitter.com/qBn1t63YGK — James Fredrick (@jameslfredrick) October 21, 2018

UPDATE: Kate Linthicum reports the caravan is over two miles long, “The caravan is more than two miles long. People near the end are stumbling. It’s 23 miles to Tapachula and it’s so hot — 90 degrees — today…I’ve waited an hour on the side of the road to see the end of the caravan. People are still coming. This is a humanitarian crisis.”

The caravan is more than two miles long. People near the end are stumbling. It’s 23 miles to Tapachula and it’s so hot — 90 degrees — today. — Kate Linthicum (@katelinthicum) October 21, 2018