The Central American migrant caravan that was a focal point prior to the midterm election has made its way to central Mexico where local officials are helping them find rides for the next leg of their journey.
After the main caravan spent Saturday night in three shelters, the biggest of which was a soccer stadium, in an area to the west of the central Mexico city of Queretaro, they began moving on their way another 62 miles towards Irapuato.
The government of Queretaro said via Twitter that 6,531 migrants had moved through the state between Friday and Saturday. It said that 5,771 of those were departing Sunday morning.
The size of the leading caravan seems to have grown since the group was in Mexico City for several days, raising the possibility that other migrants have caught up to the main caravan.
Police helped find trucks to take migrants on their way, and prevented them from trying to stop drivers themselves as they continue on to the US.
Aerial view showing migrants from poor Central American countries -mostly Hondurans- moving towards the United States on Sunday morning
The group of migrants is estimated to have grown since they were in Mexico City, with around 6,531 people in the main caravan
A boy takes his belongings as they head to Irapuato in the state of Guanajuato on Saturday after spending the night in Queretaro
US military personell install barbed wire fences to stop the passage of Central American migrants who are approaching the US border, seen from Colonia Libertad, Tijuana, Mexico
In the US they will likely be greeted by US military personnel who have been busy installing barbed wire along the border.
A day earlier a similar scene played out as the migrant caravan exited Mexico City.
Dedicated metro trains moved them across the capital before dawn and at a toll plaza north of the city they formed orderly lines to wait for their turn to climb aboard passing 18-wheelers that were willing to help them cover the 124 miles to Queretaro.
The migrants appear to be on a path to Tijuana across the border from San Diego, which is still some 1,600 miles away.
The caravan became a campaign issue in midterm elections.
Trump ordered the deployment of over 5,000 military troops to the border to fend off the migrants.
The troops are as of now expected to remain stationed there until mid-December as part of the operation to respond to the caravan.
Trump has also insinuated without proof that there are criminals or even terrorists in the group.
Central American migrants rest in a temporary shelter in Queretaro, Mexico, where three shelters were available to them Saturday night
Central American migrants wait for subway cars as they resume their journey north after leaving the temporary shelter at the Jesus Martinez stadium, in Mexico City, Saturday
The number of people in the main caravan has grown since the group left Mexico City
Many migrants say they are fleeing rampant poverty, gang violence and political instability primarily in the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, and they have now been on the road for weeks.
Mexico has offered refuge, asylum or work visas to the migrants, and its government said 2,697 temporary visas had been issued to individuals and families to cover them while they wait for the 45-day application process for a more permanent status.
But most vowed to continue to the United States.