Almost 4,000 Central American immigrants trying to escape gang violence in their home countries entered Veracruz Sunday – the Mexican Gulf coast state where many have been kidnapped in recent years.
The group was for directed northward and into what’s known as the ‘route of death’, settling in the town of Cordoba for some much-needed rest.
But first they had to trek past the state’s sugar fields and fruit groves where hundreds of migrants have disappeared after gangs are thought to have snatched them in an effort to obtain ransom payments.
Members of the migrant caravan continued on their way from Ciudad Isla, in the state of Veracruz Sunday
Members of the migrant caravan carry their belongings to the shelter of the Church of the Assumption, in the city of Puebla
Central American migrants pack into the back of a trailer truck as they begin their morning trek as part of a thousands-strong caravan hoping to reach the US border, in Isla, Veracruz state
A migrant rests on the side of a cargo truck’s cab, as a caravan of Central American migrants begin their morning trek away from Isla, Veracruz state, Mexico
A girl relaxes next to her doll inside a temporary shelter set up for a splinter group of a migrant caravan hoping to reach the US border, in Cordoba, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday
Central American migrants begin their morning trek as part of a thousands-strong caravan hoping to reach the US border, in Isla, Veracruz state
They had moved 124 miles from their previous stop to reach Veracruz, a gateway to the central part of the Mexico, making it one of the longest days of travel yet.
However the groups are still hundreds of miles away from the border of the United States after walking and hitching rides.
Authorities there said in September they had discovered remains from at least 174 people buried in clandestine graves, raising questions about whether the bodies belonged to those missing migrants.
Central American migrant Mario Cruz, from Honduras, prays inside a church that opened its doors to members of a caravan who splintered off the main group in order to reach the capital faster, in Puebla, Mexico
Central American migrants sleep between the pews of a church that opened its doors to members of a caravan who splintered off the main group in order to reach the capital faster, in Puebla
A Central American migrant wakes up inside a church that opened its doors to members of a caravan who splintered off the main group in order to reach the capital faster, in Puebla
Members of the migrant caravan arrive at the shelter of the Church of the Assumption, in the city of Puebla
A man carries a baby on his shoulders as members of the migrant caravan arrive at the shelter of the Church of the Assumption, in the city of Puebla
Central American migrants inspect a map of Mexico inside a church that opened its doors to members of a caravan who splintered off the main group in order to reach the capital faster, in Puebla
The migrants generally say they are fleeing rampant poverty, gang violence and political instability primarily in the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
So they were understandably angry as they stopped in Cordoba.
Others had already hopped freight trucks to Puebla and even Mexico City.
Migrants, part of a caravan traveling from Central America en route to the United States, walk by the road that links Metapa with Tapachula, Mexico
Members of the migrant caravan feed and play with a toddler at the shelter of the Church of the Assumption
Migrants from Honduras, part of the caravan traveling from Central America en route to the United States
Migrants from Honduras, part of the caravan traveling from Central America en route to the United States, are pictured with blankets delivered after arriving at a sport center used as a shelter, in Mexico City
The next stop for the caravans is expected to be Mexico City. In the capital, they may also receive additional support, although Mexican officials have appeared conflicted over whether to help or hinder their journey.
Those who had already arrived there stopped at a large outdoor stadium and lounged on bleachers a day after divisions beset the ranks of the caravan over which route to take.
There are three migrant caravans stretched over 300 miles (500 kilometers) of highway in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz.
Migrants from Honduras, part of the caravan traveling from Central America en route to the United States,play soccer at a sport center used as a shelter, in Mexico City
Migrants from Honduras, part of the caravan traveling from Central America en route to the United States, sleep at a sports center used as a shelter in Mexico City
Migrants from Honduras, part of the caravan traveling from Central America en route to the United States, gesture on a tribune at a sport center used as a shelter, in Mexico City
On Friday, a caravan from El Salvador crossed the Suchiate River into Mexico, bringing around 1,000 people. That caravan initially tried to cross the bridge between Guatemala and Mexico, but Mexican authorities told them they would have to show passports and visas and enter in groups of 50 for processing.
Another caravan, also of about 1,000 people, entered Mexico early in the past week. That group includes Hondurans, Salvadorans and some Guatemalans.
The first, and largest, group of mainly Honduran migrants entered Mexico on October 19.
A group of migrants from Honduras, part of a caravan traveling from Central America en route to the United States, watch a local football game outside a sports center
The stadium Jesus ‘Palillo’ Martinez, which is located within the complex of the Sports City of Magdalena Mixhiuca, and where a shelter has been set up for members of the migrant caravan, in Mexico City
Mexico’s Interior Ministry estimated Saturday that there are more than 5,000 migrants in total currently moving through southern Mexico via caravans or in smaller groups.
The ministry says 2,793 migrants have applied for refuge in Mexico in recent weeks and around 500 have asked for assistance to return to their countries of origin.
It’s unclear what part of the border they will aim for eventually but their destiny is not clear once they reach the US.
Mexican priest and activist Alejandro Solalinde (center) delivers statements to the media in the stadium Jesus ‘Palillo’ Martinez, which is located within the complex of the Sports City of Magdalena Mixhiuca
Members of the migrant caravan arrive at the shelter provided in the Jesus ‘Palillo’ Martinez stadium
President Donald Trump has ordered US troops to the Mexican border in response to the caravans.
More than 7,000 active duty troops have been told to deploy to Texas, Arizona and California ahead of the midterm elections.
He plans to sign an order that could lead to the large-scale detention of migrants crossing the southern border and bar anyone caught crossing illegally from claiming asylum.
The migrants were convinced that traveling as a large mass was their best hope for reaching the US.
Migrants from poor Central American countries -mostly Hondurans- moving towards the United States in hopes of a better life or to escape violence make a stop at a temporary shelter at a sports complex in Mexico City
A little boy snacks on candy as Honduran migrants move towards the United States in hopes of a better life
‘We think that it is better to continue together with the caravan. We are going to stay with it and respect the organizers,’ said Luis Euseda, a 32-year-old from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, traveling with his wife, Jessica Fugon. ‘Others went ahead, maybe they have no goal, but we do have a goal and it is to arrive.’
Although Mexican officials may not help all of those who reach Mexico City, Euseda said ordinary Mexicans had been helping them along the way.
Catalina Munoz said she gathered a team of 15 to help serve water, fruit and traditional food when she heard the migrant caravan would pass through the small town of Benemerito Juarez which only has 3,000 inhabitants. She bought tortillas on credit to assemble tacos of beans, cheese and rice to serve on the roadside.
Thousands of wary Central American migrants resumed their push toward the United States on Sunday, a day after arguments over the path ahead saw some travelers splinter away from the main caravan
Central American migrants begin their morning trek as part of a thousands-strong caravan hoping to reach the US border
Central American migrants begin their morning trek, clinging to the side of a cargo truck
A local gives a bag of water and food to a Central American migrant pushing a baby in a stroller, as a caravan making its way to the US passes Benemerito Juarez, Oaxaca state, Mexico