Groups in Juarez getting ready to receive members of Central American migrant caravan

Social service groups in Juarez are making preparations in case a caravan coming from Honduras with immigrants splinters off, sending some immigrants its way.

The Casa del Migrante, or Migrant House, makes room for immigrants who either come through Juarez, or were turned away after attempting to enter the US via El Paso.

Now, the shelter is preparing to play host to possibly one its biggest groups of migrants ever.

Thousands of Hondurans and Guatemalans joined a caravan headed through Mexico, bound for the U.S. Reports are the large group, which the United Nations estimates at 7,000 people, may be heading to McAllen, Texas.

Representatives with the migrant shelter in Juarez told ABC-7 they have learned portions of the caravan may splinter and come to Juarez.

“Previously, we’ve had other caravans and we’ve received part of the caravan. Maybe not the same numbers, but they have arrived,” said social worker Yvonne Lopez De Lara

Both Bishop Renato Ascencio de Leon, as well as Juarez mayor Armando Cabada, called on churches and schools to begin making preparations in case some of those buildings need to be converted into shelters.

“We are preparing the house with mattresses, so we can give them the warmth they need. Also, food and anything which has to do with eating. We’re preparing clothing and items for their medical needs,” De Lara.

The caravan is still about 1,000 miles away from the U.S.

And it’s because the group is so big that social groups, like De Lara’s, believe it will splinter off before reaching the U.S. border.

CNN and the Washington Post are reporting as many as 500 of those immigrants chose to return home after traveling under deplorable conditions.