A new U.S.-bound migrant caravan from Honduras (not to be confused with the previous one) left the Honduran capital of San Pedro Sula on Thursday. Similar to the first caravan, Honduran migrants assembled at a bus terminal to begin their trek.
Roughly 500 migrants departed to the Guatemalan border city of Aguascalientes and are expected to proceed on to the southern Mexican state of Chiapas.
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei continues to keep government health officials at the Guatemala-Honduras border to examine migrants who may exhibit symptoms of the coronavirus. The Guatemalan head of state affirmed his initial stance of rejecting infected migrants from entering.
In addition to the medical staff, Giammattei increased security personnel to expand patrol efforts at the border. Mexico followed similar safety measures, increasing the number of Mexican National Guardsmen stationed along the country's southern border to assist immigration agents.
The caravan is expected to arrive at the Guatemalan border municipality of Tecun Uman by Friday. Ciudad Hidalgo, located on the Mexican side of Suchiate River, is a frequent passage point for Central American migrants.
Mexico's National Institute of Migration informed Honduran migrants seeking entry into Mexico that they must have proper documentation or qualify for asylum.