Second Migrant Caravan Nears Mexico in Wake of Honduran Exodus

A second caravan of 1,000 migrants is nearing the Mexican border just 200 miles behind the first exodus which stormed southern border this weekend.

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Mexican authorities say they have received 1,699 refugee status requests from adults and children so far. Officials are urging migrants to register for asylum in hopes of dispersing the convoy before it reaches the border.

As the army of immigrants continues on their way, U.S. President Donald Trump is scrambling to enlist assistance from Central American and Mexican governments bouncing between threats of militarization and aid cuts to multi-million bribes, all to no avail.

Trump and fellow Republicans have used the caravan and immigration issues as a platform to promote right-wing policies ahead of U.S. Senate and U.S. House elections on November 6.

"Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws! Remember the Midterms! So unfair to those who come in legally," Trump said.

The first caravan, which has been estimated at 7,000 to 10,000 mostly Honduran migrants fleeing violence and poverty in their homelands, is currently in the town of Huixtla in Chiapas state around 50 km (31 miles) north of the Guatemalan border.

Honduran authorities say that at least two men have died so far on Mexican roads during the advance of the caravan. One of the men fell off a truck in Mexico, and the other died trying to get onto a truck in Guatemala, authorities said.

The caravan in Mexico is still far from the United States border - more than 1,800 km (1,100 miles).