Matamoros, Mexico (CNN) Eighteen members of Congress descended on a Mexican camp sitting near the US border Friday where hundreds of migrants are waiting to claim asylum.

The Democratic lawmakers navigated through tents, makeshift food stalls and clotheslines, interacting with migrants as they went.

The tent camp in Matamoros, Mexico, has grown over time as migrants, the majority of whom are from Central America, are required to wait until their court date in the US. The Trump administration implemented the policy, informally known as "remain in Mexico," nearly one year ago. Since then, more than 57,000 people have been sent back to Mexico.

The policy is among a series a changes made by the administration to curb the flow of migrants to the southern border. At the height of the border crisis last year, Border Patrol arrested nearly 133,000 people. While border arrests have declined over recent months, migrants are still approaching the border to claim asylum.

Friday's visit to the camp in Matamoros was led by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro, along with Rep. Filemon Vela. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has repeatedly denounced the policy of sending back migrants to wait for the duration of their immigration proceedings.

Read More