It was not immediately clear if the government was limiting the number of visas it issues.

Ebrard's statements came as anxious Tijuana residents closed down a school next to a sports complex where thousands of migrants have been camped out for two weeks.

Tijuana's head of migrant services, Cesar Palencia Chavez, said authorities offered to take the migrants to shelters immediately, but they initially refused

Migrants who want to take up his offer must file paperwork with the National Institute of Migration.