The migrant population staying in shelters on the southern border of Mexico has decreased by up to 90%, due to the tightening of immigration policies by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened mass deportations during his term, as noted by officials at those centers. Herbert Bermúdez, director of the shelter 'Jesús el Buen Pastor,' one of the largest and oldest in Tapachula, mentioned that since Trump's arrival in power, the flow of migrants has drastically decreased.
Denisse Lugardo Escobar, director of International Relations and Cross-Border Development, reported that the shelters in the region are operating at 30% of their capacity. Lugardo invited migrants in Tapachula who have nowhere to stay to approach shelters like La Perla, Hospitalidad y Solidaridad, and Jesús el Buen Pastor. For the past 15 days, the number of migrants in these shelters has decreased, as many have decided to move to central Mexico or return to their home countries.
Cinthia Paola, a migrant from Honduras, shared her experience in the shelter, describing it as a new way of life and refuge, expressing her fear of being on the streets. Bermúdez mentioned that due to changes in U.S. immigration policy and the suspension of CBP ONE, the number of migrants arriving at shelters in Tapachula has significantly dropped.
Julio César, a migrant from El Salvador in the shelter, recounted his story upon arriving in Tapachula seven months ago, highlighting that many people chose to return to their countries after the cancellation of CBP ONE appointments by Trump. Currently, this shelter receives an average of eight people a day, mostly families with children, in contrast to the up to 1,500 people it used to accommodate in the past.
