Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election has had immediate implications for migrants worldwide. While Trump has vowed to reduce immigration, experts believe that his policies may lead migrants to seek alternative, often riskier, routes into the United States.
The U.N.'s International Organization for Migration estimates that there are approximately 281 million international migrants globally, with increasing numbers being displaced due to political, economic, and violence-related reasons. As legal pathways become more limited, migrants may turn to dangerous irregular channels, including organized crime groups profiting from smuggling.
During Trump's first administration, Mexican border cities experienced a surge in migrants, with cartels exploiting and victimizing them. The introduction of the CBP One program by the Biden administration in 2023 brought some order to the situation, allowing migrants to schedule appointments via smartphones and reducing overcrowding in border shelters.
However, Trump has pledged to end the CBP One program and tighten restrictions on refugee resettlement, raising concerns about mass deportations. This uncertainty has left many migrants, such as a 33-year-old Venezuelan woman named Bárbara Rodríguez, reevaluating their plans and considering the use of smugglers.
Mexico, with its large population of migrants and deportees, faces significant challenges in dealing with potential policy changes under a Trump administration. The country could become a holding ground for migrants as the U.S. implements stricter immigration measures.
As the situation unfolds, migrant advocates and aid groups in Mexico are bracing for the impact of possible deportations and increased pressures on their resources. The fate of millions of migrants, their families, and the economies of both Mexico and other countries in the region hangs in the balance.
