Mexican national guard troops confronted hundreds of Central American migrants on Thursday, at times using force and pepper spray to round up the individuals who had entered the country earlier in the day from Guatemala, with a goal of traveling onward to the United States.

The action is part of a larger crackdown by Mexican authorities that began last year following pressure from Donald Trump's administration to stem the numbers of migrants without papers crossing the US-Mexico border.

Read more: US limits visas for pregnant women in effort to end 'birth tourism'

Last year, the Trump administration threatened to impose steep tariffs on Mexico if it did not do more to tackle the issue.

Encircled by armed forces

The majority of the roughly 800 migrants were Honduran, with others of Salvadorian and Guatemalan nationality. The group had walked for hours along a highway before stopping near Frontera Hidalgo, in Mexico's most southern corner, where they were encircled by hundreds of troops in riot gear that had been waiting in the area.

After a brief attempt at negotiation reportedly failed, some of the migrant individuals allowed themselves to be escorted to the buses that were waiting nearby, while guardsmen used tear gas and pushed and shoved others who resisted. Panic broke out among some women and children.

Many Central American migrants hoped to reach the US in order to escape poverty and violence

Mexico's Interior Ministry announced Thursday evening that the forces "recused 800 migrant persons of central American origin" who had irregularly entered the border area. It added that a search remained ongoing for another 200 persons who had dispersed nearby.

Jose Luis Morales, the de facto spokesman for the migrant group, told the AP news agency that they wanted to be allowed to negotiate peaceful passage.

"We want to talk with President [Andres Manual] Lopez Obrador directly," read some signs carried by the group, referring to the current Mexican president. Some migrants also said they wanted to request asylum and receive permission to work in Mexico. Many also carried flags of the US and their home nations.

Read more: Latin America: A year of movement

News agencies reported group members expressing fear about returning to their countries and desperation as motivations for their attempt.

In pictures: Photojournalist wins top award for portrayal of migrant caravan Award-winning photojournalist highlights migrant crisis Throughout 2018 and 2019 thousands of Central American's headed north, hoping to cross the US border in search of a better life. Guillermo Arias won a prestigious photojournalism award documenting their dangerous journey.

In pictures: Photojournalist wins top award for portrayal of migrant caravan Seeking asylum with children Parents who are seeking asylum in the United States often bring their children, under the belief this will support their application. However, families face harsh treatment at the border with sometimes even very young children being separated from their parents and placed in detention camps alone.

In pictures: Photojournalist wins top award for portrayal of migrant caravan Migrants walk thousands of miles for a better life The journey for the migrants to reach the US border is dangerous and could take weeks. Those that decide to join the caravans come from countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador. They are prepared to walk up to 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles), as well as boarding trucks and trains to flee criminal violence in their home countries and seek a better life in the US.

In pictures: Photojournalist wins top award for portrayal of migrant caravan Mexico feels the strain of the migrant caravans Migrants help a child catch a ride on a truck on the road linking Sayula de Aleman and Isla, Veracruz state, Mexico. Mexico continues to be a very important migration corridor as many migrants think it would now be easier to enter the US via Mexico.

In pictures: Photojournalist wins top award for portrayal of migrant caravan Help is at hand for migrants in Mexico The sheer numbers of migrants headed toward the US is a huge strain on Mexico, and coping requires considerable resources and coordination. Mexico's policy towards the migrants has become much more lenient and the country now offers medical care and access to education for their children.



Thousands-strong caravan

Earlier this week, another group attempting to pass through Mexico was halted by national guardsmen. The migrants were bused and flown home later in the week.

Together, the groups make up part of the first so-called caravan of 2020, which totals at least 3,500 and up to 5,000 people. It left Honduras on January 14.

Migration authorities in Central American estimated that thousands of migrants attempted to cross the Suchiate River at the Guatemalan-Mexican border on Thursday, taking advantage of a lack of visible authorities.

The Suchiate River marks the border of Guatemala and Mexico

So far this year, about 1,800 Honduran migrants have been deported back to Honduras from Mexico, the United States, and Guatemala.

In late 2018 and 2019, large numbers of Central American migrants traveling together in so-called caravans crossed Mexico to the US, many in an attempt to request asylum. US officials intensified the presence of border forces and instituted restrictive and controversial processing orders.

cmb/rc (EFE, AFP, AP)

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