In brief
In the lead-up to Donald Trump's inauguration, migrant shelters in Ciudad Juárez are witnessing a sharp reduction in incoming migrants due to newly imposed border restrictions. While illegal crossings remain higher than during Trump’s first term, the pressures are prompting discussions of even stricter measures.
Migrants used to gather in large numbers in encampments in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, while waiting for opportunities to cross into the United States. However, as President-elect Donald J. Trump readies to assume office, these once-crowded sites are noticeably vacant. The only signs of prior activity are remnants like extinguished campfires and left-behind personal items.Cities along the U.S.-Mexico border are experiencing a similar trend, reporting a steady decline in migrant numbers in recent months. This drop is largely attributed to intensified restrictions enforced by both the Biden administration and officials in Mexico and Panama, designed to deter future migration.In Ciudad Juárez, migrant shelters operated by both government and civic groups are currently only operating at about 40% capacity. This shift comes amidst an executive order issued by President Biden in June, targeting undocumented migrants' ability to seek asylum. The result was a notable decrease in illegal border crossings, with June numbers reflecting an 83,532 count—down from 117,905 in May.Despite this reduction, illegal crossings remain above figures seen during much of Trump’s first term, prompting calls from the incoming Trump administration, as well as some Democratic members of Congress, for more stringent immigration measures to further control the flow of migrants to the U.S.
