Migrants reaching the U.S. through Mexico feel deeply insecure. That uncertainty stems from Donald Trump's victory in November and his pledge to close the southern border and target people in the U.S. illegally.
But much of the uncertainty centers on what happens when migrants arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. Based on my recent visit to Oaxaca, President Trump or not, they are still determined to reach the United States.
Even if President Trump follows through on his campaign promises, the effects of the Biden-Harris border crisis are likely to last for years.
“Yes, it has become difficult. The moment we nominated Trump as president, things became scary. We are now living in uncertainty since he was nominated. We live in fear and anxiety,” a Venezuelan man in a makeshift camp said in an interview. “We will be desperate to cross the border.”
“We're all moving toward the same goal. At this point, we're not thinking about deportation because we're thinking about entering the United States,” said one woman who was with a large group of women and children. the woman told me.
Another group of youths said they planned to reach Mexico's northern border by Wednesday, Dec. 18. They believe that the UN's designation of International Migrants Day will help them cross borders. tod benzmanA senior national security researcher at the Center for Immigration Studies, he reported hearing the same rumors during a recent trip to Mexico City.
Two things can be true at the same time. The Mexican government is cracking down on immigration in certain parts of the country, while taking a more relaxed approach in others.
a recent videos Interviews from Piedras Negras, a Mexican border town across from Eagle Pass, Texas, highlight the ongoing problem. Although the area is not as crowded as this time last year, a significant number of people illegally crossed the Rio Grande as U.S. National Guardsmen in boats tried to stop them. What was notable was that the group crossed from the town itself rather than from the suburbs. Mexican authorities did not intervene to stop the migrants from entering the river.
This highlights the challenges facing the new Trump administration, which takes office next month. President Trump's tariff threats appear to have made it more difficult to travel to Mexico, but the impact remains inadequate. For almost four years, the flow of migrants has continued unabated. Many stakeholders, including corrupt officials, cartels, and non-governmental organizations, have taken advantage of vulnerable populations to their advantage. They all have a vested interest in keeping it that way.
Tens of thousands of immigrants remain in Mexico. Some have just begun their journey south, while others left months ago and are already near the U.S. border. The Mexican government disbanded caravans leaving the border town of Tapachula, primarily to reduce the number of large groups arriving at the border at once. Mexico was unable to prevent the 2021 international bridge crisis in Del Rio, Texas, when Haitians overran the small city.
Trump's victory has demoralized some immigrants, but for many it is just another hurdle in a long series of challenges. Going home is never an option.
Immigrants are also entering the United States through the CBP One app. The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security is almost certain to cancel the program, but many migrants are already on their way to ports of entry, either registered or soon to be registered. If the app goes offline, thousands of people who have traveled may see no reason to return to their home countries.
Even if President Trump follows through on his campaign promises, the effects of the Biden-Harris border crisis are likely to last for years. As the saying goes, you can't put toothpaste back in the tube. Immigrants, NGOs, and bad actors are happy to exploit weaknesses in actions and policies. The new Trump administration must not falter.
