TAPACHULA, Mexico — Recently, Mexican immigration officials dismantled two smaller migrant caravans that were making their way to the United States border, according to reports from activists on Saturday.

Some migrants were transported by bus to various locations in southern Mexico, while others received temporary transit documents.

This intervention follows a warning from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican goods unless the country took more significant measures to reduce migrant movement towards the U.S.

On Wednesday, Trump announced that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had committed to minimizing unauthorized migrations into the U.S. In a reciprocal statement, Sheinbaum wrote on her social media platforms that efforts were being made to manage “migrants and caravans before they reach the border.”

Luis García Villagrán, an advocate for migrant rights, suggested that these actions to disband the two caravans likely stemmed from a behind-the-scenes agreement between the U.S. and Mexican leaders.

The initial caravan departed from Tapachula, a city in southern Mexico close to the Guatemalan border, on November 5, coinciding with Trump’s electoral victory. At its peak, this caravan consisted of approximately 2,500 individuals and traveled around 270 miles (approximately 430 kilometers) over almost four weeks, reaching Tehuantepec in Oaxaca state.

In Tehuantepec, Mexican immigration officials offered weary travelers complimentary bus transportation to other parts of southern or central Mexico.

Bárbara Rodríguez, a Venezuelan opposition supporter who fled her home country following a disputed presidential election earlier this year, recounted that group members were taken to various cities, including Acapulco, Morelia, and Oaxaca City. She later managed to board a bus to Mexico City independently.

The second caravan consisted of about 1,500 migrants and commenced its journey on November 20, traveling around 140 miles (about 225 kilometers) before arriving in Tonala, Chiapas. There, authorities provided a type of transit visa permitting travel across Mexico for a duration of 20 days.

Sheinbaum expressed optimism that a trade conflict with the United States could be avoided; however, her comments did not clarify the specifics of any agreements made in her recent conversation with Trump.

Historically, previous larger caravans from 2018 and 2019 were able to receive bus assistance for part of their journey northward. However, no caravan has successfully completed the entire journey to the U.S. by foot or hitchhiking with a unified group, although some individual members have reached the border.

Over the years, Mexican authorities have frequently blocked, intimidated, or hindered the progress of these migrant caravans, often detaining participants and returning them to areas closer to the Guatemalan border.