A caravan of about 1,000 undocumented migrants from Central America crossed into Mexico yesterday.

The migrants arrived at the Guatemala side of the Rodolfo Robles international bridge in Tecún Umán on Monday, when they requested assistance from Mexican authorities in Hidalgo, Chiapas.

But when they were advised that the humanitarian permit program had concluded, they crossed the border.

Overwhelmed by the size of the caravan, Mexican authorities decided to open the gates and let the migrants cross.

One suffered a seizure and died on the bridge but the incident did not interrupt the caravan’s progress into Mexico.

Federal Police and the National Immigration Institute (INM) agents attempted to stop the migrants before they reached the municipality of Frontera Hidalgo, but they were repelled with stones.

Several official vehicles were damaged and at least 20 people were arrested.

The caravan’s progress was not interrupted by this incident, and the authorities allowed it to continue on its way north.

On Sunday, a smaller group of about 200 Central American migrants also crossed illegally, but they were contained by the Federal Police and INM officials.