Thousands of Central American migrants have resumed their push toward the United States, beginning a treacherous trek through one of Mexico's deadliest states.
About 4000 migrants are headed along what some call the "route of death" toward the town of Cordoba, Veracruz, which is about 200 kilometres from their last rest stop.
The day's hike was one of the longest yet, as the exhausted group of travellers tried to progress to the US border, which is still hundreds of kilometres away.
A trek via the sugar fields and fruit groves of Veracruz takes the caravan through a state where hundreds of migrants have disappeared in recent years, falling prey to kidnappers looking for ransom payments.
Members of the migrant caravan continue on their way into Mexico. Source: AP
Authorities in Veracruz said in September they had discovered remains from at least 174 people buried in clandestine graves, raising questions about whether the bodies belonged to migrants.
On Friday, a caravan from El Salvador waded over the Suchiate River into Mexico, bringing around 1000 people who want to reach the US border.
Another caravan, also of about 1000 people, entered Mexico earlier this week.
Mexico's Interior Ministry estimated on Saturday that there are more than 5000 migrants in total currently moving through southern Mexico via caravan or in smaller groups.
Central American migrants, part of the caravan hoping to reach the US border, wait to get a ride on a truck, in Isla, Veracruz state, Mexico. Source: AP
President Donald Trump has ordered US troops to the Mexican border in response to the caravans.
More than 7000 troops have been told to deploy to Texas, Arizona and California ahead of the midterm elections.
About 4000 migrants are headed along what some call the "route of death" toward the town of Cordoba, Veracruz. Source: AP
Trump plans to sign an order next week that could lead to the large-scale detention of migrants crossing the southern border and bar anyone caught crossing illegally from claiming asylum.
