Tears and Uncertainty as Migrants Face New U.S. Immigration Crackdown
Margelis Tinoco, a 48-year-old Colombian migrant, broke down in tears when her asylum appointment was abruptly canceled, a direct result of sweeping immigration restrictions announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on his first day in office during his second term. Having endured a perilous journey from South America with her husband and son, Tinoco expressed her despair: "I don’t know what will become of my life anymore."
Trump's return to the White House came with immediate actions to tighten border controls. Declaring plans to reduce the number of migrants entering the U.S., he vowed to declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, halt all illegal entries, and deport "millions of criminal aliens."
Adding to the chaos, an app introduced under former President Joe Biden to streamline asylum claims, CBP One, was taken offline shortly after Trump's inauguration. Migrants like Tinoco found their appointments canceled, leaving them in limbo. Pointing to her phone, Tinoco pleaded for compassion, recounting six months of suffering after leaving Venezuela, where her family had sought temporary refuge.
Other migrants shared similar heartbreak. Yaime Perez, a 27-year-old Cuban, emotionally appealed to the U.S. government, saying, "Please let us in. After all the work we’ve put in to get here, allow us to better ourselves and be somebody."
Antony Herrera, who traveled from Venezuela with his wife and three children, also discovered his appointment had been canceled. “We don’t know what is going to happen,” said the 31-year-old, one of the millions fleeing Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic turmoil under President Nicolás Maduro.
In southern Mexico, hundreds of migrants, undeterred by Trump’s warnings, began their journey northward. These caravans often aim to pressure Mexican authorities to issue transit permits that allow safe passage. Jefferzon Celedon, a 24-year-old Venezuelan, voiced his fears: “With everything we’ve been through, it’s hard to face closed doors.” However, fellow Venezuelan Leonel Delgado remained resolute, stating, “We have to keep going. We’ll see what happens when we arrive.”
During his first term, from 2017 to 2021, Trump implemented strict immigration measures, including the "Remain in Mexico" policy, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their applications were processed. Trump has reinstated this policy, though Mexico's response remains uncertain. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated Mexico would accept deported nationals but made no commitments about receiving foreigners expelled from the U.S.
Despite the uncertainty, migrants continue to press forward, driven by hope for a better future. The crackdowns have created a grim atmosphere, but for many, turning back is not an option.
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