(Update 1-16-2020): A large portion of the caravan, comprised of an estimated 1,500 migrants, has already crossed into Guatemala and is expected to arrive in Chiapas, Mexico, later this afternoon. The number may increase if, as in the past, other migrants join as they proceed.

A Mexican newspaper reported this morning that hundreds are waiting to join the caravan with hopes of being able to enter the United States.

However, the National Institute of Migration and the Mexican National Guard have been deployed on the border with Guatemala. Eloína Sonia Hernandez Aguilar, mayor of Suchiapa, Chiapas, confirmed that "Everything is quiet so far, we are watching."

Original Article (12-30-2020):

Mexico's Interior Secretary, Olga Sanchez Cordero, confirmed the formation of a United States-bound migrant caravan commencing in Honduras. The caravan is slated to leave the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula by mid-January.

Rumors of the caravan forming began appearing on social media last month.

According to the Secretary of the Interior, the government of Mexico is preparing for the arrival of the Central American caravan. Social programs and other forms of assistance will be readily available for migrants in southern Mexico.

During a press conference, Sanchez Cordero said, "The government of Mexico is very open to being a country of asylum and to migrants who want to stay and work, to obtain resident status, a job, and those who seek to join a social program that we generally provide to Mexicans, are welcome. Those who only want to use Mexico as a transit country are not welcome."

The secretary stressed that any migrants who do not choose to stay in Mexico will be promptly returned to their home countries.

No details were released on the number of migrants likely to join the caravan.

However, Sanchez Cordero affirmed President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's stance on deploying the National Guard on Mexico’s southern border. The troops assist with containing migrants, and for reducing instances of crime.