Migrant Caravan: Images of the Epic Journey Through Central America Towards the U.S. Border

The so-called "migrant caravan" is continuing its epic journey through Central America towards the United States.

Estimates on the size of the caravan vary from around 3,500 to more than double that. The largest group, which set off from San Pedro Sula in Honduras on October 12, has traveled north through Guatemala into Mexico.

Some have abandoned the journey, deterred by the hardships or the possibility of making a new life in Mexico. Others joined it in southern Mexico. Private citizens, church groups and local organizations have offered help at almost every stop and on the walks in between.

American President Donald Trump has focused his attention on the caravan as he seeks to fire up support for the Republican Party ahead of the November 6 congressional elections.

The United States has said it will send over 5,200 troops to help secure the border with Mexico. The projected deployment is roughly the same size as the U.S. military contingent in Iraq.

General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the head of U.S. Northern Command, said 800 U.S. troops were already en route to the Texas border and more were headed to the borders in California and Arizona.

Republican lawmakers and other Trump supporters have applauded the deployment. But critics say Trump is politicizing the military, deploying them as a stunt to drive Republican voters to the polls without any real national security threat.

The migrant caravan is still around 1,000 miles from the U.S. border. It has been traveling about 20 to 30 miles a day, largely on foot. If it continues at that rate, it could take weeks or even months to reach the U.S. border.

Newsweek presents photos of the river of humanity flowing northwards through Central America.