As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House on January 20, migrants in Mexico are growing anxious about their asylum appointments with U.S. authorities, many of which fall just days after his inauguration. With Trump’s past rhetoric and policies targeting mass deportations, migrants fear their chances of being allowed to enter the United States will be dashed.
Yusmelis Villalobos, a Venezuelan with a scheduled appointment for January 23, expressed feelings of despair. “It’s no secret that sometimes when Donald Trump says things, he does them,” said Dayana Hernandez, another Venezuelan migrant, who voiced similar concerns about her uncertain future.
Adding to the migrants’ uncertainty is the political situation back in Venezuela, where Nicolas Maduro’s controversial re-election as president has compounded the anxiety many feel about their ability to reach safety in the U.S.
Trump, known for his harsh stance on immigration, has vowed to carry out large-scale deportations during his second term, which has left many migrants in Mexico wondering whether their appointments through the U.S. government’s CBP One mobile app will be honored. This app allows migrants to schedule asylum requests but does not guarantee entry into the U.S. It can, however, grant them a work permit while they await their case’s resolution.
The situation in Tapachula, a city in southern Mexico near the Guatemalan border, is tense. Migrants wait for permission to travel toward the U.S. border, with many having been unable to secure necessary permits and resorting to walking in caravans through Mexico, enduring hunger and exhaustion. Meanwhile, Mexican authorities are struggling to manage the growing number of migrants.
The uncertainty surrounding their future in the U.S. has led many to question whether they should continue their journey or return to their home countries. Some, like Anais Rojas, a 20-year-old Venezuelan traveling with her young son, fear that their January 23 appointment might be canceled, but still hold onto hope.
Despite the challenges, Rojas, who does not harbor hatred toward Trump, expressed that if his policies boost the U.S. economy, it could ultimately benefit migrants. “If the economy is better, it benefits us too,” she said.
As Trump’s presidency looms, the fate of thousands of migrants remains uncertain, and many are left with a difficult decision on how to proceed.
