Mexican Border Cities Experience Decrease in Migrant Numbers
Migrant shelters and soup kitchens in Mexican border cities, such as Ciudad Juárez, are seeing a significant decrease in activity as the number of people attempting to enter the United States declines. The decrease comes after the expiration of a pandemic-era border restriction known as Title 42 in May. The Joe Biden administration’s implementation of tougher penalties for illegal border crossings and Mexico’s efforts to discourage migrants from crowding along the border have contributed to the decrease in migrant numbers.
In Ciudad Juárez, authorities recently dismantled a tent camp set up after a deadly fire at a migrant detention center in March. The camp, which initially housed 240 people, now only has 80 occupants as many migrants have made appointments with US border authorities or have been transported by Mexican authorities to different parts of the country. However, immigrant advocates warn that the calm may be temporary, as hundreds of migrants continue to arrive in southern Mexico daily with the intention of heading north to the United States.
While the combination of US and Mexican policies has resulted in a drop in border crossings, it remains uncertain how long these measures will effectively keep the numbers down. US authorities have registered a significant decline in apprehensions of migrants since the end of Title 42. However, by the end of June, apprehensions had begun to rise in some areas, although still considerably lower than in the spring.
The Biden administration has implemented various measures, including tougher penalties and improvements to the asylum application process, to address the surge in migrants trying to enter the United States. Meanwhile, Mexico has taken steps to reduce border crossings by busing and airlifting migrants from the northern border to other parts of the country and implementing bureaucratic obstacles for migrants. Critics argue that Mexico’s tougher approach benefits the Biden administration’s efforts to improve border control and protects Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador from questioning from Washington.
Although the situation has calmed in some Mexican cities along the border, the underlying issues that drive millions of migrants from their homes, such as violence and economic hardship, have not changed. Many Mexican asylum seekers are among the migrants currently seeking refuge in shelters in the United States. Additionally, illegal crossings have been on the rise in certain areas along the Arizona border, indicating that the migration challenge is complex and multifaceted.
As the number of migrants trying to enter the United States fluctuates, both the US and Mexican governments will continue to grapple with finding long-term solutions to the underlying causes of migration.