In brief
Tijuana, historically known for its high migrant crossings into the U.S., now faces an invisible crisis, as drastic reductions in migrant numbers leave shelters and streets devoid of hopeful travelers.
In Tijuana, Mexico, a city renowned for its role as a key border crossing into Southern California, a stark transformation is evident: the once bustling streets and shelters filled with migrants are now largely empty. Formerly, Tijuana was a point of hope for thousands of individuals seeking legal and illegal routes into the United States, but recent months have shown a significant decline in migrant presence.The streets that were once thronged with those waiting for asylum appointments now sit eerily silent. Lenis Mojica, a Venezuelan migrant residing in a local shelter, is among the few remaining. "People aren’t coming here," he laments, capturing the surprising stillness of the city. The reduction in migrant numbers isn’t unique to Tijuana. Mexican border cities are reporting similar trends, a shift that began before the election of President Trump but has intensified since his administration took hold. In April alone, U.S. border agents apprehended just over 8,300 individuals along the border, a remarkable drop from 129,000 the previous year and far from the staggering nearly 250,000 apprehensions recorded in December 2023.The fallout from these declining numbers raises pivotal questions about the current landscape of immigration, the viability of border policies, and the future of a region once bustling with migrant activity. As road construction echoes in the vacant spaces that once stirred with anticipation and anxiety, Tijuana’s status as a hub for migration hangs in a delicate balance, illuminating the real-time consequences of immigration reform and enforcement.
