Mexico on Friday announced it will offer Central American migrants medical care, education for their children and access to temporary jobs as long as they stay in two southern states.

The plan was the first broad and detailed bid to address concerns of the flood of migrants, mostly from Honduras, who -- facing deadly violence and desperation at home -- set out in caravans for the United States.

President Enrique Pena Nieto announced the "make yourself at home" plan that migrants who agree to remain in Chiapas and Oaxaca states can "receive medical care and even send your children to school," according to a video posted on Twitter.

Migrants who want to take up his offer must file paperwork with the National Institute of Migration.

Mattis approves military support on Mexico border
Washington (AFP) Oct 26, 2018 - Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Friday approved a request to send troops and military assistance to the US-Mexico border -- part of President Donald Trump's effort to slow illegal crossings in the run-up to key elections.

A Pentagon statement said the support would come in the form of logistical and engineering assistance, including the construction of "temporary barriers, barricades and fencing."

The Pentagon did not provide details on how many troops would be sent, but US officials on Thursday told AFP that about 800 service members would be deployed to the frontier.

"After receiving a request for assistance from the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense has approved providing mission-enhancing capabilities to Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection along the Southwest Border," the Pentagon statement read.

The troops would augment the 2,100 or so National Guardsmen who were deployed in April to support border operations, and could come from multiple military bases around the US.

Other help would include aviation support to ferry border agents around and medical to teams to "triage, treat and prepare for commercial transport of patients," the statement read.

The military beef-up of the border comes as thousands of Central American migrants are crossing Mexico toward the United States in a slow-moving caravan.

The issue has become a rallying cry for Trump, who has taken a hard line on illegal immigration and has repeatedly kept the story in the headlines in the run up to America's midterm congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain some degree of power.

"This plan is only for those who comply with Mexican laws and is a first step towards a permanent solution for those who have refugee status in Mexico," Pena Nieto said.

A caravan with some 7,000 Central Americans is traveling through southern Mexico and many are determined to reach the United States -- despite warnings from US President Donald Trump, who says they will be turned back.

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Pentagon to send about 800 troops to US-Mexico border
Washington (AFP) Oct 26, 2018
The Pentagon is expected to deploy about 800 troops to the US-Mexico border, two US officials told AFP on Thursday, after President Donald Trump said the military would help tackle a "national emergency" and called on a caravan of migrants to turn around. The active-duty troops would augment the 2,000 or so National Guardsmen already deployed to support operations on the border, and could come from multiple military bases around the US. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was expected to sign orders ei ... read more