Hundreds of migrants have begun moving north through Mexico in a newly organized caravan, with some participants reportedly expressing hope that Democrats will win the upcoming U.S. midterm elections and eventually create a more favorable environment for entering the United States.

Veteran immigration reporter Julio Rosas documented the caravan’s departure from southern Mexico earlier this week, reporting that some migrants are closely watching American politics as they consider their prospects of reaching the U.S. border.

“Another large migrant caravan is leaving Mexico’s southern border right now in an attempt to reach the United States. Some members of the caravan, which is mostly comprised of Central Americans, told me they are hopeful Democrats win the midterms,” Rosas posted on X.

The group departed Tapachula, Chiapas, on October 20 after gathering for several days near the city’s Parque Bicentenario.

Mexican news outlets reported that approximately 400 to more than 600 migrants participated in the departure, with estimates varying among local reports.

The caravan consists primarily of migrants from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, along with smaller numbers from other countries.

Participants began traveling north along Mexico’s coastal highway, continuing a journey that some hope will eventually take them to the United States.

The caravan has been associated with the name “Fe y Esperanza #2,” meaning Faith and Hope, and the slogan “Emigrar no es delito,” or Migrating is not a crime.

Many participants reportedly entered Mexico irregularly before assembling in Tapachula.

While some members have expressed intentions of eventually reaching the American border, others have indicated they may seek employment or opportunities in central or northern Mexico.

The distinction is significant because participation in the caravan does not necessarily mean every migrant intends to enter the United States.

Nevertheless, the political comments reported by Rosas have attracted attention as the November 3 midterm elections approach.

During an appearance on Fox News’ *Fox & Friends First*, Rosas discussed why some caravan participants appear to be following the American electoral landscape.

“I’m going to ask the most captain obvious question in the history of all questions: Why, Julio, why do they want the Democrats to win?” one of the hosts asked.

Rosas explained that some migrants believe a Democratic victory could eventually produce changes in U.S. immigration enforcement and border policies.

“Well, they’re seeing the promises that the Democrats are making, coming up for the midterms. They are saying what they want to do should they take control of the Congress. Also, you have to keep in mind that the migrants here as other migrant caravans within the past year, they are playing the long game because they know or they feel that if Democrats sweep the midterms, then that momentum could potentially continue to 2028, which would then make it easier for the border to be open, basically what we saw in 2021 when Joe Biden took over,” Rosas responded.

His comments suggest that some migrants are considering not only the immediate election results but also the possibility of future political changes in Washington.

However, those expectations reflect the views attributed to individual migrants and Rosas’ interpretation of their motivations, not any established guarantee that immigration policies would change following the elections.

Control of Congress alone would not automatically eliminate existing immigration laws or guarantee entry into the United States.

Rosas also emphasized that the latest caravan is not an isolated development.

Similar groups have formed throughout 2026, including caravans that departed southern Mexico earlier in the year but ultimately failed to reach the U.S. border.

“Yeah, absolutely. Again, this is not just because of the midterms. People see the momentum, in their eyes that is in favor for them and what they want. So, even though people are saying this is simply a midterm scare tactic, other caravans are being organized past the midterms,” Rosas added.

His remarks highlight the continuing efforts of migrant groups to travel north despite increased enforcement measures and the difficulties associated with crossing Mexico.

An earlier caravan that formed in September also used the “Fe y Esperanza” name.

That group was reportedly partially dispersed by Mexican immigration authorities near the border between Chiapas and Oaxaca.

Mexican news outlets have documented repeated interventions by immigration officials seeking to prevent large migrant groups from advancing beyond the country’s southern states.

Those enforcement efforts have complicated attempts by caravan organizers to maintain large groups throughout the lengthy journey north.

Migrants traveling from Tapachula face hundreds of miles of difficult terrain, transportation challenges and potential encounters with Mexican immigration authorities before approaching the U.S. border.

As a result, the formation of a caravan does not necessarily mean its members will successfully reach American territory.

The latest movement nevertheless comes amid continuing debate over U.S. immigration policy, border security and the political consequences of the upcoming midterm elections.

President Donald Trump’s administration has maintained a restrictive approach to unauthorized border crossings, emphasizing enforcement and deterrence.

The Department of Homeland Security previously issued a categorical warning in response to reports of migrant caravans attempting to reach the United States.

“There is absolutely ZERO chance this caravan will be allowed into the United States. We will protect our borders,” the agency said at the time.

The statement underscored the administration’s position that migrants traveling in organized caravans should not expect to gain entry simply by reaching the border.

Meanwhile, Rosas’ reporting suggests that at least some migrants are viewing the upcoming elections as a possible turning point in the longer-term immigration debate.

Whether those political expectations have any practical effect on the caravan’s journey remains uncertain.

Mexican authorities could intervene before the group approaches the United States, as they have with previous caravans.

Even if participants reach the border, they would still face applicable U.S. immigration laws and enforcement procedures.

For now, the caravan’s departure has brought renewed attention to the relationship between migration patterns, perceptions of American immigration policy and the approaching elections.

Hundreds of migrants are once again traveling north through Mexico, and according to Rosas, some are openly hoping that a change in the balance of political power in Washington could eventually improve their chances of entering the United States.

Whether the caravan reaches the American border — and whether the political developments its members are watching unfold as they anticipate — remains to be seen.

The Trump administration is considering a dramatic new approach to securing the southern border, with the Pentagon reportedly authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to test a powerful military-grade heat ray designed to force people to retreat without firing a single bullet.

The technology, known as the Active Denial System, uses an invisible beam of electromagnetic energy to create an intense burning sensation on exposed skin, compelling individuals to move away from the targeted area.

According to CNN, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the testing arrangement in a memorandum signed last month, allowing DHS to evaluate whether the controversial technology could be used in future operations along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The system reportedly has a range exceeding half a mile, potentially giving federal authorities a powerful long-distance tool for dispersing crowds and controlling access to restricted areas.

Military officials have compared the sensation produced by the device to opening an extremely hot oven, describing a “tingling effect” that can last between 10 and 15 minutes.

The technology reportedly creates “an instinctive and irresistible urge to run from the effect.”

Unlike traditional firearms, the Active Denial System is designed to repel individuals without using bullets, explosives or conventional projectiles.

But the prospect of deploying the technology against people attempting to cross the southern border has raised serious questions about safety, legal authority and the possibility of unintended injuries.

Under the reported agreement, DHS is authorized to temporarily borrow one Active Denial System for a seven-month testing period beginning in September.

The Pentagon will not operate the equipment during that period.

The memorandum specifically states that the system “shall not be operated by DoW (Department of War) personnel.”

Instead, DHS will assume responsibility for “system employment, use and development of tactics, techniques and procedures.”

The arrangement gives federal immigration authorities an opportunity to examine the technology’s capabilities and determine whether it could serve a practical role in border security operations.

If the testing produces favorable results, officials could potentially request additional equipment, although no broader deployment has been authorized.

Customs and Border Protection acknowledged its ongoing interest in evaluating new technology that could strengthen federal enforcement capabilities.

“CBP is continually evaluating new technologies, especially those that enhance operational effectiveness and strengthen mission capabilities,” an agency spokesperson told CNN.

The Pentagon referred questions about the arrangement to DHS.

Although the Active Denial System has existed for years, using it along the southern border would represent a significant departure from conventional immigration enforcement tactics.

The military previously transported the technology to Afghanistan but ultimately declined to use it during active combat operations.

Officials also explored potential applications at overseas detention facilities before abandoning those proposals.

Federal border authorities have considered similar uses for the system in the past, particularly in areas where large numbers of migrants were attempting unauthorized crossings.

One earlier evaluation involved the El Centro sector along the California-Mexico border, where officials examined whether the heat ray could discourage crossings near waterways.

Rodney Scott, who now serves as CBP commissioner, oversaw the sector during that previous review.

But the proposal encountered concerns about whether forcing migrants to retreat could create dangerous situations, particularly near rivers and other hazardous terrain.

“Even if they’re chasing people back to the river, you don’t want them to go in and drown,” a former CBP official told CNN.

“For the cost, for the training and for the policies you’re going to create, is the juice worth the squeeze?”

The technology also sparked debate during Trump’s first administration.

In 2018, federal officials reportedly considered deploying the system against groups of migrants approaching the border before then-Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen rejected the proposal.

“The issue was treating immigrants and citizens like enemy combatants,” a former DHS official told CNN.

“Thematically, inhumane treatments typically get rejected.”

Those earlier objections could resurface as the administration evaluates whether the system can be operated safely and legally in an immigration enforcement setting.

One potential complication involves the possibility of the beam reaching individuals standing on Mexican territory, which could trigger diplomatic disputes and questions about federal authority beyond the U.S. border.

Other concerns involve accidental exposure, the risk of injuries and whether the technology could cause people to flee into dangerous locations.

Some Border Patrol personnel have also questioned whether the system is necessary, particularly amid reports of declining illegal border crossings and increased federal staffing.

The financial costs of acquiring, maintaining and operating the equipment could become another factor in determining whether DHS ultimately pursues deployment.

Still, the Pentagon’s reported authorization represents a significant development in the administration’s examination of advanced border enforcement technology.

The Active Denial System would give authorities a fundamentally different crowd-control capability from traditional physical barriers, patrol vehicles and conventional enforcement equipment.

Whether that capability would be effective, proportionate or legally appropriate in civilian border operations remains unresolved.

For now, DHS has permission to test the system and develop potential operating procedures, but officials have not announced plans to deploy the heat ray against migrants at the southern border.

Any decision to move beyond testing would require further consideration of safety, operational effectiveness and legal restrictions governing the use of force.

The immediate development is significant: Federal immigration authorities have reportedly received Pentagon approval to evaluate a military-grade directed-energy weapon for possible border operations, even as major questions remain about how—and whether—it could be used.

A Department of Energy electrical engineer has been arrested on a stunning federal terrorism charge after investigators accused him of attempting to help the Iran-backed Houthis with technical expertise, drone components and materials associated with the production of explosives.

Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, of Richland, Washington, was arrested Thursday and charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Federal prosecutors allege Ellaboudy was employed by the Department of Energy while using his specialized electrical engineering knowledge in an effort to assist the Houthis.

The allegations immediately drew a blistering response from the Justice Department.

“As alleged, a U.S. government employee traveled overseas and used his specialized expertise in an attempt to aid the Houthis, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization backed by Iran,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Additionally, Ellaboudy acquired materials for the construction of explosive material and drones capable of delivering these explosives. These allegations are so deeply disturbing that they almost defy imagination.”

According to the criminal complaint, the FBI’s investigation began after authorities learned Ellaboudy had allegedly purchased precursor chemicals, components and other materials commonly associated with homemade explosive devices.

Investigators also discovered purchases of components used to build drones and remotely operated aerial systems, prosecutors said.

But the allegations extend far beyond purchases made inside the United States.

Federal authorities say Ellaboudy traveled from Washington state to Oman in September 2025 before crossing into Yemen using an official passport previously issued to him while he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, a 51 year old former employee of the Department of Energy, Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Yemeni Houthis, who are a designated terrorist organization.… pic.twitter.com/lhySGgETbV

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 1, 2026

According to the FBI, Ellaboudy intended to reach Sanaa, Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital.

He ultimately failed to make it there.

When Ellaboudy returned to the United States, prosecutors allege he told Customs and Border Protection officers that his overseas trip had been official government business.

Investigators say that story didn’t hold up.

Ellaboudy’s Department of Energy supervisor later told authorities that he had no authorized government travel to the region and had not been assigned to the missile inspection mission Ellaboudy allegedly described, according to court records.

Federal investigators further allege Ellaboudy admitted to FBI informants that he had been smuggled into and out of Yemen and hoped to establish high-level connections inside the country.

The investigation then took another turn.

Ellaboudy began communicating with an FBI confidential source who purported to be working for a Houthi “Colonel,” according to prosecutors.

Authorities allege Ellaboudy subsequently put his engineering expertise to work.

He allegedly helped test and modify solar power generators and communications equipment intended for a mobile communications center.

Prosecutors say he also supplied diagrams, technical guidance and research involving equipment that could potentially enhance Houthi communications capabilities.

Investigators have also scrutinized Ellaboudy’s previous acquisition and handling of chemicals.

The Justice Department said authorities learned that in 2024 Ellaboudy took sick leave from his government position after reporting exposure to highly concentrated nitric acid.

Nitric acid has legitimate industrial and scientific applications but can also be used in producing certain explosive materials.

Taken together, federal prosecutors allege the engineer’s activities amounted to an attempt to provide material support to the Houthis.

The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, control significant portions of Yemen and have received support from Iran. The United States has designated the organization as a foreign terrorist organization.

Ellaboudy now faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

The case puts a particularly striking element at the center of the government’s allegations: prosecutors aren’t accusing an ordinary private citizen of simply attempting to make contact with a foreign terrorist organization.

They allege a U.S. government engineer attempted to use specialized technical expertise—and acquire materials involving drones and explosives—to help one.

Ellaboudy has been charged, not convicted, and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.