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Thousands of migrants arrived on Sunday in the southern Mexican town of Alvaro Obregon to spend Christmas Eve in a public square without shelter before making their way north to cross the country and reach the border with the United States.

On Sunday, the group of mostly Central American and Caribbean migrants had walked 15 km from the southern border city of Tapachula to get to Alvaro Obregon, with plans to set off again around 4 am the next day.

Migrant rights activist Luis Garcia Villagran urged that migrants must not become political bargaining chips in the upcoming presidential election in the United States, where migrants were heading.

“We won’t be stopped, we’ll keep walking,” he said.

Local authorities estimated the size of the caravan to average about 8,000 people per day. A Reuters witness travelling with the group said most migrants were from Central and South America, but also the Caribbean.

Haitian migrant Ysguel Jean, who was carrying a white cross with “Christ” painted in red letters, said he had left his home country because of rampant crime and corruption, and because he wanted to provide for his two daughters.

“Three months in Tapachula trying to get papers and I still have nothing,” he said. “I’m tired of waiting around in Tapachula, being hungry, and unable to earn a living.” Like others, he said he wanted to reach the United States.

In 2018 and 2019, large caravans, mostly comprising Central Americans, crossed Mexico to reach the United States. These were followed by smaller groups in recent years.

Last year, record numbers of migrants attempted to cross the US-Mexico border illegally.