Thousands, many fleeing political persecution and violence, wait for refugee papers as new caravan crosses Mexico border

More than 3,000 Central Americans from the collective exodus stayed behind in southern Mexico and are under consideration for refugee status in country.

The political crisis resulting from last year's controversial presidential elections contributes to today's mass exodus, which includes refugees fleeing post-electoral political persecution.

Presenting zero evidence, the US government claims there are hundreds of criminals among the migrant exodus, but Central American migrants and refugees in Tijuana are more concerned about potentially armed and dangerous forces north of the border.

Daniel Folgar and Sergio Cáceres met 2,500km ago. The friends, from Guatemala and Honduras respectively, are now in Tijuana, but if they make it into the US, they could be affected by a proposed rule change that would impact immigrants with disabilities.

It was the day of the 2017 general elections in Honduras when unknown men approached Obedi Miranda and her husband, Allan Escobar, two opposition Libre party activists. "They told us to leave, or else," Miranda said this week, sitting on a couch in a corner of a migrant and refugee shelter just after arriving in Tijuana.

Some 5,000 Central Americans rested in a makeshift refugee camp in a Mexico City stadium this week to prepare for next leg of journey to the US border.

A survivor of the 2010 San Fernando massacre of 72 migrants in Mexico, Billy Noe Martinez is making the trek again, hoping to find safety in numbers.

Parents travelling in a US-bound caravan of thousands of Central American migrants and refugees are taking legal action on behalf of their children against US President Donald Trump's border detention plans.

Orvelina Melendez witnessed her husband's murder. Now travelling with thousands of migrants and refugees in a US-bound caravan, she hopes to provide for her family, including her 6-year-old son with a chronic illness.

A Honduran man was killed late on Sunday as the crackdown on migrants and refugees walking from Central America to the United States intensified.

Group departs from El Salvador as others across Central America and Mexico join thousands on US-bound caravan.

Thousands of Honduran migrants and refugees in southern Mexico are continuing their journey north after a two-hour standoff with police.

"We left fleeing through our own lands, arriving through blind spots," says Oscar Omar Nuñez, a street vendor who fled violence and poverty in Honduras with his wife and their children. They are now with thousands making their way up through southern Mexico.

Thousands of migrants and refugees headed to the US find temporary shelter and help as they pass through Guatemala.

Human rights groups warn that government responses to Central American migrants and refugees fleeing to the US may violate international law.

Women and girls make up nearly half of the initial exodus from Honduras. Considering the risk of violence and sexual assault along the northbound route, many women say they find safety in numbers.

Facing tightened security, waves of Hondurans continue to try to make it to the US, saying they have no other choice.

As Trump ramps up threats, a group of migrants crossed into Mexico with thousands more heading towards border behind them as governments fortify borders and arrest caravan support activists.

US President Donald Trump's threats against a caravan of thousands of Honduran migrants headed to the United States will not deter people from fleeing the Central American country, activists say, adding they would welcome a cut in US military and security aid to Honduran security forces.