Mexico City has dedicated the "Day of the Dead" parade this year to immigrants, with thousands of Central Americans continuing to crawl from the southern border of Mexico to the United States despite pressure from US President Donald Trump to disperse crowds.
In contrast to the scenes of traditional dancing skeletons and flower-clad pogroms on the main street in the Mexican capital, Saturday's motorcade also highlighted Mexican immigrants and foreigners who settled in Mexico City.
"The procession ... is for immigrants who have lost their lives on their way to other countries and have contributed across the country in a real resort town," the Mexico City government said on Twitter.
Metal plates representing the Mexican side of the American border were drawn and the words "There are dreams on this side of the border."
The motorcade, which took place before the Mexicans' nationwide celebration, coincided with the death day on November 1 and 2, with crowds of immigrants moving north after entering Mexico, many of them fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras and Guatemala.
Some plan to seek asylum in Mexico, while others plan to reach the United States, angering Trump, who has threatened to close the border and cut aid to Central America.
Crowds of immigrants arrived in the southern state of Wahaka on Saturday and could arrive in Mexico City by Friday. Local media indicated that city officials would put up four shelters to accommodate the migrants.
The procession in Mexico City included dancers disguised as royal butterflies, famous for their long trekking routes, and ended up at a large altar decorated with skeletal shapes, which local officials said symbolized the migrants who died.
Mexico has a long history of absorbing immigrants as well as refugees, "said Mariana Villalobos, 33, who attended the procession.
