President Donald Trump has said the US will “begin cutting off” foreign aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador over the unfolding migrant crisis.
Mr Trump criticised the countries on Monday for allowing people to leave the region and come “illegally” to the US.
The comments mark the latest attempt by Mr Trump to revive a national conversation about immigration before the US mid-term elections.
The caravan of thousands is now making its way through Mexico towards the US.
Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
In 2017, Guatemala received over $248m (£191m) in US aid. The same year, Honduras received $175m and El Salvador $115m, according to the US Agency for International Development.
Mr Trump accused the migrants of trying to illegally enter the US, but many of the families travelling towards the border are seeking asylum.
The migrants say they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries.
Without offering evidence, Mr Trump has also repeatedly suggested the caravan was politically motivated.
“The Caravans are a disgrace to the Democrat Party. Change the immigration laws NOW!'” he said in an earlier tweet
Where are the migrants now?
On Sunday, the migrant caravan reached the town of Tapachula, approximately 37km (23 miles) from Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.
The Mexican authorities had earlier tried to stop them at a border bridge, but some managed to cross into Mexico illegally by boat over the Suchiate river.
“We have sunburn. We have blisters. But we got here. Our strength is greater than Trump’s threats,” migrant Britany Hernández told AFP news agency.
It is expected to take weeks before the caravan reaches the US-Mexico border, according to US media.
One of the closest border crossings in Brownsville, Texas is still over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away from Tapachula.
The last leg of their journey will also have to wait until Mexico processes the group, and asylum claims can take up to 45 days.
Why is President Trump reacting so strongly?
Curbing illegal immigration was one of the main campaign promises Mr Trump made when he ran for president.
His Republican Party is facing mid-term elections on 6 November and could be unseated by Democrats in the House of Representatives. Immigration is the most important issue facing the US, say 15% of all voters.
While Mr Trump would not be in favour of allowing thousands of Central American migrants to enter the US, the caravan is exactly the kind of issue that could energise his supporters.
Mr Trump on Monday also urged people to blame Democrats for the border crisis, saying: “Remember the mid-terms”.
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.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
Conservative media in the US have honed in on the president’s claims that the group is full of people – and criminals – seeking to illegally enter the US, as well as his remarks blaming Democrats for the crisis.
Who are the migrants?
A group of about 1,000 Hondurans set off on foot from a bus terminal in the crime-ridden city of San Pedro Sula on 13 October in an attempt to escape unemployment and the threat of violence.
Many of them had become aware of the caravan after a former lawmaker had published a poster announcing the caravan on Facebook. News of it quickly spread on social media.
They have since been joined by other Central American nationals as they crossed Guatemala towards the Mexican border.
The region has one of the highest murder rates in the world and many try to flee gang violence.
