Tijuana Migrant Shelters Empty After Trump's Asylum Crackdown

Shift in Border Crossings

• 📉 Illegal border crossings into the US have significantly decreased by nearly 90% since Donald Trump took office, according to official US data.
• 📍 This rapid change is evident in Tijuana, Mexico, a major migrant corridor, with shelters seeing drastically fewer individuals.

Impact on Migrant Shelters

• 🏠 Shelters like Juvented 2000, which once housed up to 200 migrants, now see only about 20 visitors.
• ➡️ Shelter directors observe that many migrants are now settling in Tijuana or border areas rather than attempting to cross.
• 👥 Other shelters, such as Ambassadors of Jesus, have also reported a reduction of over half in their guest numbers.

Asylum Policy Changes

• 🚫 Trump's administration rescinded rights for asylum seekers, vowed to deport more migrants, and allocated significant funds to immigration enforcement.
• ⚖️ Under the Biden administration, asylum was welcomed for those with a credible fear of persecution, leading to a surge in migration.
• 🛑 On January 20th, Trump invoked emergency powers to suspend asylum claims, which deterred potential migrants.

Migrant Experiences and Perspectives

• 🌍 Shelters are now receiving migrants from less traditional source countries, including the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
• 💬 One shelter imam, who fled political persecution in Ghana, urged Americans to have compassion and listen to migrants' stories, emphasizing that not everyone is a threat and many have contributions to offer.
• 🇲🇽 Migrants who cannot return to their home countries are obtaining papers in Mexico and starting businesses while awaiting policy changes.