Activists and shelters on the southern border of Mexico are noticing a decrease in migrants due to the new restrictions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. José Antonio Chol Ruiz, from the Leftist Organizations Block, explained that this decline is due to the pause in asylum in the U.S. and the border closure announced by Trump, which has led many migrants to consider returning to their home countries.
According to Chol Ruiz, the presence of migrants in common areas has decreased significantly, with fewer lines at banks and higher rents in the city of Tapachula, which is the main city on the border with Central America. On the other hand, migrants feel demotivated by the measures implemented by Trump, such as mass deportations and changes in asylum procedures.
Migration in the region is also affected by the deployment of the Mexican National Guard at the U.S. border to combat drug and human trafficking. Mexico has reported that the number of encounters with irregular migrants at the U.S. border has decreased significantly, while operations to secure undocumented individuals at the southern border continue.
In this context, some migrants have expressed their concern about the current situation. Conde, a Haitian in Tapachula, pointed out that it is important for migrants to have their documents in order due to the authorities' oversight. On the other hand, Luis Felipe, a Honduran, has noticed the reduction of the presence of compatriots and travelers from other countries in shelters and migrant gathering points, attributing it to deportation and the unstable situation in their home countries.
As a sign of the actions carried out, a group of 242 deported migrants, including women and children, returned to Venezuela from Mexico on a plane last Monday. Despite the current challenges, some migrants maintain hope of regularizing their situation through Mexican authorities.
