Faith and Hope Caravan Grows to More Than 600 in Mexico

A caravan known as Faith and Hope has grown to more than 600 people as it travels north through southern Mexico, after entering the country from Guatemala around September 24. Some participants say they hope to reach the United States, while others plan to remain in Mexico; how many will continue north is unclear. The group crossed into Mexico over the Rodolfo Robles bridge in Chiapas and reached Tapachula, where migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador and Haiti joined people who had started the journey in Honduras. Reports placed the original group at about 300 people, though accounts differed on its initial size. The caravan remains far from the U.S. border. Participants have described differing reasons and destinations. Honduran migrant José Zelaya told EFE that hunger and necessity drove the journey and said the group had no organized leadership. Other migrants cited economic hardship. An Ecuadorian participant said he hoped to settle in Monterrey, while some others said they wanted to reach the United States. The Department of Homeland Security responded to the caravan in a post on X with the phrase “Our time has come” and separately stated that the border is closed.