Thousands of migrants remain stuck at Mexico’s northern border. Trump’s tightened immigration policies block legal entry into the US and fuel human smuggling operations.
Trapped with Nowhere to Go
Margelis Rodríguez had hoped to reunite with her family in the US. Her asylum application was submitted, and she had secured a hearing date. However, Trump’s administration abruptly canceled all pending cases, reinforced border security, and increased deportations. Now, Rodríguez and her two children are stranded in a shelter in Tijuana, unable to cross legally or return to Venezuela.
Just a few miles away, Hector López waits anxiously for his brother, who was arrested in San Diego. His brother worked in construction, one of the industries ICE has been targeting more aggressively. López hopes to see him deported to Tijuana, but ICE often transfers migrants to distant border crossings, making their return to familiar areas more difficult.
Shelters Overwhelmed, Conditions Worsen
Mexico has established shelters in cities like Tijuana and Mexicali, but many migrants refuse to stay in them. Fear of the National Guard, poor living conditions, and corruption within immigration agencies deter them from seeking help. Government-run facilities frequently face criticism due to disease outbreaks, inadequate resources, and past tragedies, such as a fire in 2022 that killed 40 people.
Meanwhile, private shelters are overflowing. The Casa del Migrante in Reynosa, designed for 150 people, now houses 250, including 80 children. Food and resources are running out, and many migrants have overstayed the maximum allowed period. Haitians, Colombians, and Venezuelans are particularly vulnerable, as they have few options. While Mexican citizens receive government aid for transportation home, non-Mexican deportees are left with little choice but to risk an illegal crossing.
Cartels Exploit Migrants Under Stricter Border Controls
With official migration pathways blocked, smuggling networks have expanded. Criminal groups have adapted to the increased security, raising fees and guiding migrants through even riskier routes. Migrants who once waited in public spaces like parks or train stations are now hidden in “safe houses” run by cartels.
These locations are anything but safe. Migrants report extortion, forced labor, and sexual abuse. Cartels also threaten their relatives in the US to extort ransom payments. Father Prisciliano Peraza, who runs a migrant shelter in Altar, warns, “The more migrants are pushed into illegality, the more vulnerable they become to organized crime.”
The US government reports a 90% drop in illegal crossings. However, experts remain skeptical about how long this trend will last. Many migrants, including Rodríguez, are now looking for alternatives in Mexico. She has applied for legal residency and is searching for work in Tijuana. Immigration expert Denise Gilman from the University of Texas argues that current US policies do more to push migrants into dangerous situations than to prevent illegal crossings. Meanwhile, smuggling cartels continue to thrive, having earned over $600 million from human trafficking in 2022 alone.
