Former President Donald Trump’s return to power has reignited harsh immigration policies that have left thousands of migrants stranded at the U.S.-Mexico border. His recent actions, including the declaration of a national emergency and the cancellation of the CBP One app, have compounded the suffering of many who are now stuck in Mexico, facing exploitation and violence.
After Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency, his administration wasted no time in enforcing his signature anti-immigration policies. One of the most significant measures was the cancellation of the CBP One app, which allowed undocumented migrants from Mexico to submit legal requests for entry to the U.S. With the app’s discontinuation, an estimated 270,000 migrants have been left stranded in Mexico, many of whom now face severe hardship.
These migrants, many fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries, now risk being exploited by criminal gangs and corrupt law enforcement on their perilous journey north. In Ciudad Juárez, a border city in northern Mexico, the situation is increasingly dire. The closure of CBP One has added to the pressure, with many migrants now relying on smugglers who charge up to $10,000 for a covert entry into the U.S.
The brutal reality for migrants in this region was starkly illustrated by the tragic fire at a detention center in April 2023, where 40 people perished. This tragedy occurred against the backdrop of both the Trump and Biden administrations’ hardline immigration stances. While Trump’s policies were notorious for their cruelty, the Biden administration also saw a significant number of deportations, surpassing even Trump’s numbers in some instances.
As thousands of migrants gather in Ciudad Juárez, local authorities have set up massive white tents to temporarily shelter those expelled from the U.S. I spent time in the city, speaking with individuals in makeshift shelters, and heard a range of harrowing stories.
One middle-aged Mexican man shared his painful experience of being deported from Arizona over a decade ago. While in the U.S., he worked at McDonald’s and Burger King, and even cleaned people’s homes for extra income. He was arrested by the police while buying food one day and was held for three months in a dark underground prison. Upon being deported, he was given special glasses to protect his eyes from the harsh sunlight, a reminder of his dehumanizing treatment.
“American Dream? It’s not what people think. No one talks to us there. They don’t want us there,” he lamented.
The economic policies of the United States have had devastating effects on Mexico’s working class. The 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) crippled Mexico’s agricultural sector, forcing thousands of farmers to flee their land in search of a better life across the border. The disastrous impacts of U.S. economic policy continue to push people from their homes in search of survival.
The so-called “War on Drugs” launched in 2006 also had a significant impact on the region, with vast numbers of Mexican soldiers and police deployed to Ciudad Juárez. The city soon became one of the most violent in the world, with organized crime groups frequently clashing with security forces, many of whom were themselves corrupt. As of 2024, the murder rate in Ciudad Juárez has surpassed 1,000, underscoring the deepening crisis.
During my visit, I met a Venezuelan migrant in a shelter who had been waiting in Mexico for seven months. He had previously secured an appointment through the now-defunct CBP One app, which was later canceled, leaving him in limbo. As I toured shelters, I saw families with young children, some barefoot and in ragged clothes, shivering in the cold. Despite the harsh conditions, they held on to hope, though it was clear that their patience was running thin.
One Venezuelan man, in his thirties, spoke of his growing despair, saying, “It’s like swimming across a river and drowning as soon as you reach the other side.” He had been kidnapped multiple times by both Mexican law enforcement and criminal gangs during his time in the country.
As I walked through the streets of Ciudad Juárez, I came across two young Venezuelans cleaning car windshields in exchange for tips. Their equipment had broken, and police officers had arrived, demanding bribes. One of them shared his own story of being deported twice from the U.S. He showed me a picture of himself smiling on the Brooklyn Bridge, a moment that now felt distant.
“American Dream? It’s not what people think. No one talks to us there. They don’t want us there,” he said, echoing the sentiment of many others I spoke with.
Now, these young men find themselves at a crossroads, unsure whether to return to Mexico City or remain in Ciudad Juárez, cleaning car windows to survive. The economic hardship and uncertainty of their future are compounded by the ongoing strain of trying to cross the U.S. border.
Liberty News’ international correspondent states that, the root cause of their crisis lies in the economic policies of the United States, which have sowed the seeds of suffering in their home countries. Now, these young people face an uncertain future, unsure of where to go or what to do next in their desperate search for a better life.
LND/BAIZID
