A caravan of around 1,500 migrants, primarily from Central and South America, began its journey several days ago from Tapachula, Mexico, heading north toward the U.S. border. The migrants, who come from countries marked by violence, economic hardship, and political turmoil, have expressed deep concerns about the future of U.S. immigration policy under the incoming administration. Many fear that the window for asylum will close after Donald Trump takes office on January 20, 2017, and they are determined to cross the southern U.S. border before his inauguration.

This caravan is not an isolated event but rather part of a broader migration trend in which families, children, and individuals are fleeing conditions they say make survival impossible at home. For many of these migrants, the journey is a desperate attempt to escape the dangers that await them in their own countries—gang violence, corruption, and economic collapse.

Along their route, they face numerous obstacles, from the dangers of the journey itself to the increasingly strict immigration enforcement policies of both Mexico and the United States. Mexican authorities, including local police and the National Guard, have been stationed along the route to prevent the caravan from advancing too far. While some migrants are able to evade these checkpoints, others are apprehended and detained.

Despite the challenges, many in the caravan remain hopeful. Their goal is not just to reach the U.S. border but to seek safety, to find a better life for themselves and their families. With the threat of an uncertain future ahead, their resolve has only strengthened, even as the chances of reaching the U.S. before Trump’s inauguration appear slim.

As January 20 draws closer, both Mexico and the U.S. are preparing for a potential surge in migration, with stricter policies expected on both sides of the border. For the migrants in this caravan, however, the uncertainty of the future only intensifies their need for a chance at a new life, driven by the hope that they might still find refuge before the political landscape changes forever.