DHS warns migrant caravan moving north from Honduras

The Department of Homeland Security issued a direct warning to a migrant caravan that crossed into Mexico and is moving north toward the U.S.-Mexico border. The agency stated that United States Border Patrol is closely engaged with international partners to monitor the group's movement and any additional developments.

The caravan, which numbered in the hundreds as of Monday, departed San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on Sept. 20. DHS told Fox News that the group is predominantly made up of Hondurans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans, Ecuadoreans, and Haitians. The department emphasized that under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the border has remained closed and secured for the last 16 months.

In a statement, DHS noted that the era of "catch and release" is over and that the administration has sealed shut what it described as the disastrous open border policy of the previous government. The department warned that anyone attempting to illegally enter the United States will be apprehended, prosecuted, and removed from the country.

This development occurs amid a contentious midterm election cycle where immigration policy has become a central talking point for both political parties. President Trump has mandated sweeping deportations and expanded crackdowns nationwide since taking office last year, coinciding with historically low levels of illegal immigration. Some migrants within the caravan indicated they are seeking better economic opportunities in the United States.

José Zelaya, a Honduran migrant traveling with seven relatives, told the Spanish-language EFE news agency that he wants to reach the United States. Zelaya stated that the caravan lacks organized leadership and that "hunger and need" are the primary driving forces behind the journey. The Houston Chronicle reported these remarks as part of its coverage of the migration movement.