
Migrants clashed with Mexican troops on a bridge at the Guatemalan border on Saturday, as hundreds of guards also lined the banks of the river to prevent further crossings there.

Thousands of Central American migrants tried to push their way across a bridge spanning the Suchiate River between Mexico and Guatemala.

Honduran migrants waved their country's flag and sang the national anthem as they approached the bridge. At the height of the confrontation, Guatemalan authorities estimated 2,500 migrants were on the bridge, or attempting to get on it.

Scuffles briefly broke out as a group of several hundred mostly Honduran migrants pressed forward to cross, only to be pushed back by security forces.

Scores of people who entered Guatemala from Honduras in recent days have been arriving at the Mexican border, with the bulk of them still advancing in a larger caravan, testing the resolve of Mexico to heed US demands to contain migrant flows.

Hundreds of guardsmen lined the river to prevent migrants from crossing into Mexico clandestinely. The voice on the loudspeaker warned, over and over, that those aiming to transit through Mexico may not be granted asylum in the U.S., even if they make it there.

Mexican security officials closed the border at the crossing between Tecun Uman, Guatemala and Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico

Scuffles broke out on the Guatemala-Mexico border on Saturday morning as a group of several hundred mostly Honduran migrants pressed forward to cross, only to be pushed back by Mexican security forces

More than a thousand Central American migrants surged onto a bridge spanning the Suchiate River that marks the border between both countries as Mexican security forces attempted to impede their journey north

Emotions were high as the crowd swelled. Mexico again finds itself in the role of immigration enforcer as Central Americans desperate for a better life try to make their way north, while Mexico’s biggest trade partner — the United States —insists that Mexico prevent those migrants from reaching the U.S. border

Amid shoves, Mexican officials did allow a few migrants to enter the country in groups of 20, while a voice over a loudspeaker warned migrants against trying to slip into Mexico without passing through immigration filters.

Mexico again finds itself in the role of immigration enforcer as Central Americans desperate for a better life try to make their way north, while Mexico's biggest trade partner - the United States -insists that Mexico prevent those migrants from reaching the U.S. border.

President Donald Trump has threatened to hurt Mexico and Central American countries economically if they allow large groups to reach the United States border, and the latest exodus from Honduras has been accompanied by US border agents.

On Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered 4,000 jobs to members of the caravan in an attempt to dissuade them from traveling on to the United States.

Guatemalan authorities say around 4,000 people have arrived in the country in the last few days, the biggest surge since Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador signed accords with the United States that increase pressure on them to deal with migrants.

After waiting on a bridge at the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman, some migrants began pushing and shoving before being driven back by Mexican security officials, who shut the border crossing and sought to calm the group.

Footage from Saturday morning showed a group of migrants jostling and clashing with members of Mexico's National Guard on the bridge separating Guatemala from Mexico. Women carrying small children could be seen at the front of the group on the bridge.

Members of the Mexican National Guard try to prevent Honduran migrants from entering to Mexico at a crossing point in Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas State, Mexico, on Saturday. Hundreds of guardsmen also lined the river to prevent migrants from crossing into Mexico clandestinely. The voice on the loudspeaker warned, over and over, that those aiming to transit through Mexico may not be granted asylum in the U.S., even if they make it there

Military police guard the border between Guatemala and Mexico on Saturday. Guatemalan authorities say around 4,000 people have arrived in the country in the last few days, the biggest surge since Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador signed accords with the United States that increase pressure on them to deal with migrants

After waiting on a bridge at the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman, some migrants began pushing and shoving before being driven back by Mexican security officials, who shut the border crossing and sought to calm the group

Television footage from the morning showed a group of migrants jostling and clashing with members of Mexico's National Guard on the bridge separating Guatemala from Mexico

A migrant climbs the fence at the border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico in Tecun Uman, Guatemala on Saturday

Mexican National Guardsmen arrive to the Suchiate River in Ciudad Hidalgo, on the Mexican border with Guatemala

Mexico's National Migration Institute said via Twitter on Saturday that it had reinforced multiple points along the country's southern border to assure 'safe, orderly and regular immigration.' It also said it was using drones to monitor the region.

A few migrants made it through the gate, local media said, but Mexican officials appeared to be controlling the situation more successfully than when a large caravan sought to force its way through at the same crossing in October 2018.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he is monitoring the approach of the migrants and has held out the prospect of jobs in southern Mexico for those who want to stay.

Interior Minister Olga Sanchez said earlier this week that the migrants would not be granted safe conduct passes.

About 400 of the migrants who entered Guatemala since Wednesday have been returned to their countries of origin, according to a statement issued by the Guatemalan government.

Mexico had beefed up its forces at the border crossing as it anticipated the arrival of a caravan of some 3,000 people mainly from Honduras and El Salvador. On Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered 4,000 jobs to members of the caravan in an attempt to dissuade them from traveling on to the United States