The first migrants from a caravan of Central Americans have arrived at the US-Mexico border. Thousands, mostly Hondurans, are making the journey north in search of a better life.

The United States has responded by deploying troops to the border from where CGTN’s Phil Lavelle reports.

They’re so close, they can practically taste their dream. They can definitely see it. Just feet away as they stand in Tijuana, Mexico.

The first members of the caravan of migrants, who’ve traveled thousands of miles, slowly now, reaching the U.S.-Mexico border. Many from Honduras and other Central American countries.

“We’re waiting for everyone to come, and we’re going to see what solution there is now that we’re right at the door. And, some are coming with the idea that some family members will cross with coyotes, others will request asylum,” said Jose Christin a Honduran migrant.

Originally, some seven thousand strong, now thought to be about half that.

And, those who got a head start finally arriving at their destination. Including 80 or so LGBT asylum seekers. They broke off from the main caravan, reportedly hitching rides to get ahead of the crowd.

“We come fleeing from trouble. We come fleeing from discrimination. We come fleeing from a lot of violence in Honduras and Central America, so we ask, we plead. ‘Help us, open your doors!’ We don’t come to do any evil, we come to help develop the United States even more,” said Cesar Rico a Honduran LGBT migrant.

On Wednesday, as more migrants arrived. some even breached the border.

Climbing up on top, reports of others landing on U.S. soil. Before climbing back over as U.S. border guards arrived. They don’t want to be arrested and deported.

There are around five-thousand extra troops here now. On top of the two thousand border guards you’d normally find. The Trump administration eager to show force against what it’s described as “an invasion.”

“For now, we’re waiting to see what solutions there might be after a while to see if there’s a possibility to enter or not. Because if there’s no possibility to enter and if we’re going to run a lot of risk, then we’re going to wait for a while here in Tijuana,” said Jose Christin a Honduran migrant.

So, as the barriers go up even more, literally and metaphorically, the migrants hope they’ll be allowed in. With thousands seeking asylum and each having to be interviewed one-by-one, it may be months before the each learn their fate.