Once known for its bustling migrant shelters, Tijuana now witnesses a stark decline in the number of people seeking passage to the U.S.
Disappearance of Migrants in Tijuana: A Former Border Hub in Decline
Disappearance of Migrants in Tijuana: A Former Border Hub in Decline
As migrant numbers dwindle, Tijuana reflects a significant change in the landscape of border crossings.
In the border town of Tijuana, a historically significant conduit for migrants seeking entry into Southern California, the streets have become eerily quiet. Known for its packed shelters and a vibrant community of asylum seekers, recent shifts have left migrant shelters increasingly empty. Tijuana, which once boasted bustling parks filled with migrants and claimed the title of the busiest land crossing in the Western Hemisphere, now suffers from an alarming drop in arrivals.
On Thursday, the once crowded line of hopeful individuals seeking asylum has dwindled to a mere handful, leaving only road construction sounds in their place. “People aren’t coming here,” lamented Lenis Mojica, a Venezuelan migrant who sought refuge in a local shelter since January. “Everyone has left. No one else has arrived.” This trend isn't isolated to Tijuana; other Mexican border cities are experiencing similar declines in migrant populations.
Data suggests that this decreasing trend started even before President Trump's inauguration, but has intensified under his administration, which has pursued stricter immigration measures. U.S. border apprehensions painted a stark picture as well, plummeting to just 8,383 in April from a staggering 129,000 during the same month the previous year, and even more dramatically from nearly 250,000 in December 2023.
On Thursday, the once crowded line of hopeful individuals seeking asylum has dwindled to a mere handful, leaving only road construction sounds in their place. “People aren’t coming here,” lamented Lenis Mojica, a Venezuelan migrant who sought refuge in a local shelter since January. “Everyone has left. No one else has arrived.” This trend isn't isolated to Tijuana; other Mexican border cities are experiencing similar declines in migrant populations.
Data suggests that this decreasing trend started even before President Trump's inauguration, but has intensified under his administration, which has pursued stricter immigration measures. U.S. border apprehensions painted a stark picture as well, plummeting to just 8,383 in April from a staggering 129,000 during the same month the previous year, and even more dramatically from nearly 250,000 in December 2023.
