By Zoila Palma: Thousands of migrants hoping to reach the United States are reconsidering their plans following President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, with some choosing to settle in Mexico instead.
Among them is Milko Garcia, a 29-year-old Venezuelan who was preparing to seek asylum at the US-Mexico border when his appointment was abruptly cancelled two days after Trump took office in January 2025. Garcia has since established himself in Tijuana, where he works as a real estate agent and says he is comfortable with his new life, AFP reports.
The cancellation followed Trump’s decision to shut down CBP One, a mobile application previously used to schedule appointments for asylum seekers and other applicants seeking legal entry into the United States.
At the time, the application had approximately 270,000 pending cases, including 30,000 involving people seeking a legal pathway into the US from Mexico. Garcia, who travelled north from Venezuela after his family migrated to Peru in 2014, said he no longer wants to start over in the United States. He also rejected the idea of paying human smugglers, who he said were demanding US$10,000 to help migrants cross the border illegally.
A 2025 survey by the International Organization for Migration found that 45% of migrants interviewed in the area had decided to make Mexico their home.
Meanwhile, organizations assisting migrants have shifted their focus toward helping them navigate Mexican immigration procedures and obtain legal status as opportunities to enter the United States become more limited.
The post International News: Trump’s Immigration crackdown pushes migrants to build new lives in Mexico appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Thousands of migrants hoping to reach the United States are reconsidering their plans following President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, with some choosing to settle in Mexico instead. Among them is Milko Garcia, a 29-year-old Venezuelan who was preparing to seek asylum at the US-Mexico border when his appointment was abruptly cancelled two
The post International News: Trump’s Immigration crackdown pushes migrants to build new lives in Mexico appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
