El Salvador sends hundreds of police to border to thwart migrants

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - El Salvador's government will deploy at least 800 police to its borders with Honduras and Guatemala in a bid to thwart U.S.-bound migrants, officials said on Wednesday.

A government statement said the deployment is set to begin on Thursday at La Hachadura, a border crossing with Guatemala near the Pacific coast and where hundreds of Salvadoran migrants have previously attempted to cross as part of large caravans.

The police will be backed up by another 350 immigration officials who will review identification and travel documents of migrants seeking to cross, according to a Salvadoran government official.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said after a White House meeting earlier this week there had been a significant decrease in U.S.-bound immigration through Mexico, especially from Central America, and he expected the trend to continue.

El Salvador's new president, Nayib Bukele, and acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan agreed late last month to collaborate more closely on migration and security.