About 1,500 Central American migrants traveling in the caravan to the southern U.S. border have abandoned their trek north and applied for asylum through the Mexican government, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirmed to the Washington Examiner.

“As of yesterday, roughly 1,500 people have applied for asylum in Mexico,” UNHCR spokesman Chris McGrath wrote in an email. Those asylum seekers will remain in the country for up to three months as their requests are processed.

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