Trump renews threat to close Mexico border over migrants

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Donald Trump has threatened to close the whole US-Mexico border, including halting trade with Mexico, if the arrival of migrants from central America there leads to disorder. He also said he had given troops at the border the go-ahead to use lethal force if needed. On Monday the US briefly closed a busy crossing to install new barriers. Thousands of migrants are at the border after travelling more than 4,000km (2,500 miles) from Central America. Migrant caravan: What is it and why does it matter? A river of people: The migrant caravan in pictures They say they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Mr Trump has deployed about 5,800 troops to the border and has previously described the migrants as an "invasion". What did Trump say? "If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," he told reporters. "The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars," he added. Image caption The migrants say they are fleeing poverty, violence and persecution

Donald Trump has threatened to close the whole US-Mexico border, including halting trade with Mexico, if the arrival of migrants from central America there leads to disorder. He also said he had given troops at the border the go-ahead to use lethal force if needed. On Monday the US briefly closed a busy crossing to install new barriers. Thousands of migrants are at the border after travelling more than 4,000km (2,500 miles) from Central America. Migrant caravan: What is it and why does it matter? A river of people: The migrant caravan in pictures They say they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Mr Trump has deployed about 5,800 troops to the border and has previously described the migrants as an "invasion". What did Trump say? "If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," he told reporters. "The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars," he added. Image caption The migrants say they are fleeing poverty, violence and persecution

Where are the migrants now? Almost 3,000 Central American migrants have arrived in the Mexican border city of Tijuana after crossing Mexico and parts of Central America. More than 2,750 have sought refuge in a shelter set up by the mayor's office. Hundreds of Tijuana residents have protested against the migrants' presence and urged them to leave.

The town's mayor has said he expects the number of migrants in the city to reach 10,000 in the coming weeks. US officials have warned that anyone found entering the country illegally will face arrest, prosecution and deportation. What do the migrants want? The migrants say they are leaving their respective countries in the hope of building a better future for themselves and their families. Some say they have been threatened or mistreated by criminal gangs operating in their home towns. Many are travelling with their children whom they say they do not want to fall prey to the gangs. Others hope to get jobs abroad which will pay enough for them to send money to their relatives who stayed behind.