Martín Escareño Díaz, born in Guadalupe, Zacatecas, became known as the first deported migrant during the administration of Donald Trump. His attempt to enter the United States illegally, using a false document at the San Ysidro checkpoint, led him back to Mexico. Escareño admitted that the fear generated by Trump's statements regarding immigration policies influenced his decision.
"I have lived undocumented several times, including for a period of 10 years," Escareño detailed. His case became a visible example of the effects of the new immigration policies implemented by the Trump administration. The tightening of border control measures increases uncertainty among migrants, especially for those seeking to cross through unauthorized routes.
One of the changes that could affect migrants is the potential elimination of the CBP One system, warned José María García 'Chema', founder of the Juventud 2000 shelter and coordinator of the Tijuana Migrants Alliance. This measure could leave thousands of migrants who seek opportunities in the United States stranded.
Escareño's crossing attempt was thwarted when U.S. authorities detected the irregularity in his false identification document. After a day in custody, he was deported to Mexico, specifically to Tijuana, on Monday, January 20.
The Zacatecan migrant, grateful for the treatment received from Mexican authorities, revealed that this was not his first attempt to cross into the United States illegally. The possible cancellation of the CBP One program, which processes humanitarian asylum requests in the United States, could leave migrants trapped in Mexican border cities in a difficult situation.
