By Daina Beth Solomon

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Several hundred migrants who fled southern Mexico two months ago in a caravan began to board buses for northern Mexico Wednesday after a deal was made with Mexico that would bring them closer towards their goal of reaching the United States.

In late October, the caravan headed south from Tapachula to Mexico’s border in Guatemala. However, hundreds of people abandoned the difficult journey and walked for several weeks.

One smaller group of children, which included toddlers, made their way slowly to Mexico City. Irineo Mujica, an activist, pressed the government to issue visas and buses for migrants to travel further north.

Mujica spoke to cheering migrants in the shelter they had camped in via social media, saying “A new chapter is starting”

The memo was sent from the National Migration Institute and the Interior Ministry of the Government. It stated that they would transport migrants to northern cities such as Hermosillo, Monterrey, Chihuahua and Chihuahua as well as Ciudad Juarez (just opposite Texas).

After thousands of migrants arrived in Tapachula, the immigration officials have offered to take them buses to get out.

Many migrants, from Central America to Cubans to Haiti, saw Mexico City as the only route they had for crossing the border without being deported.

Henry Portillo is 23 years old. He said he came to Honduras to escape poverty. His family has farmed since his childhood, when he was just six years of age. As a child, he learned to read and write, but he did not learn to farm until he turned sixteen.

The trek was made by his wife. She is expected to give birth soon to a boy.

Portillo declared, “My mission it the United States.” Portillo stated, “I want him study and not to be like me.”