Police in Mexico try to stop caravan of Central American migrants determined to reach the US originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

A caravan of thousands of footsore Central American migrants who say they are seeking refuge from violence in their countries was moving north Sunday under the close watch of an army of Mexican federal police in riot gear.

Mexican officials said federal police were staying in front of the caravan, which stretched about two miles and comprised of mostly people from Honduras and Guatemala, many of whom say they are determined to reach the U.S. border 1,700 miles away.

Those Mexican officers, transported in a convoy of tour buses and joined by riot police from across the country, have announced they will not let the migrants pass a small town near the border.

"Full efforts are being made to stop the onslaught of illegal aliens from crossing our Southern Border," President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon. People have to apply for asylum in Mexico first, and if they fail to do that, the U.S. will turn them away. The courts are asking the U.S. to do things that are not doable!"

The Caravans are a disgrace to the Democrat Party. Change the immigration laws NOW! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2018

Full efforts are being made to stop the onslaught of illegal aliens from crossing our Souther Border. People have to apply for asylum in Mexico first, and if they fail to do that, the U.S. will turn them away. The courts are asking the U.S. to do things that are not doable! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2018

One woman in the caravan, Blanca, held tight to the arms of her two young sons as her teenage daughter walked beside them holding water bottles. Blanca told ABC News that she fled Honduras with her children after her husband was killed by gangs.

She said she would accept asylum in Mexico if officials there offered it to her, but her goal was to make it all the way to the U.S. border.

"My family is suffering right now, but what's happening in Honduras is worse," Blanca said.

The phalanx of police, supported by Mexican military Blackhawk helicopters overhead, was bracing for a repeat of the violent clashes that occurred on Friday when the caravan stormed and overran a crossing at the Suchiate River at the border of Guatemala and Mexico. Members of the caravan crossed into Mexico illegally by either forcing their way through a border fence or jumping into the river and swimming to the Mexico side.

PHOTO: Central American migrants walk along the highway near the border with Guatemala, as they continue their journey trying to reach the U.S., in Tapachula, Mexico Oct. 21, 2018. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters) More

"Donald Trump, we don't want to cause you any problem, we just want to get a job. Help us," one young migrant told ABC News as he and hundreds of others walked along a road near Tapachula, Mexico.

Many in the caravan demonstrated that they still had pride in the respective countries they were fleeing by holding the flags of Honduras and Guatemala as they walked.

Among the thousands of migrants are families; fathers and mothers carrying sweating children on their shoulders, shielding them from the ferocious sun. ABC News saw at least one toddler splayed out on the highway sleeping, his father too tired to go on.

Most people were carrying small backpacks and plastic bags. They walked on battered shoes, some were barefoot.

As the migrants walked through villages, local residents came out of their houses to offer food and water. Occasionally, passing motorists would offer rides to the tired migrants, as many had been walking since 4 a.m Sunday.

"God will help us," one exhausted 20-year-old Honduran mother carrying her toddler son told ABC News as the temperature rose to 87 degrees by midday.

In a series of tweets last week, President Trump threatened to “call up the U.S. military and close our SOUTHERN BORDER” if Mexico doesn’t do anything to stop the flow of migrants.

In late April and early May, a much smaller migrant caravan made it all the way to the U.S.-Mexico border, but only a handful of the asylum seekers were processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trump was critical of the caravan and in a series of tweets slammed "Democrat-inspired laws on sanctuary cities" for encouraging such a journey.

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