In the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s recent election victory, many migrants in a caravan bound for the United States have decided to abandon their journey.
The caravan, which began earlier this week in southern Mexico, initially included around 3,000 migrants from Central and South America who were seeking asylum or better economic prospects in the U.S.
However, upon learning of Trump’s win, many migrants opted to turn back, fearing that his return to the White House would result in stricter immigration policies and heightened deportations.
For many, Trump’s election signals an end to their hopes of entering the U.S.
“This is the end of my dream of getting out of Cuba,” said Felipe, a Cuban migrant, expressing deep frustration at the election results. Like many others, he had pinned his hopes on a more lenient immigration system.
Trump has pledged to initiate a broad deportation program when he returns to office, leaving many migrants to rethink their plans.
Migrants in the caravan have been following news closely via social media and messaging apps like Telegram, where they share updates on immigration policies and border conditions.
Information on these platforms spread quickly, and news of Trump’s win has left many discouraged, with fears that asylum opportunities will be limited or even unavailable.
Abel, a young man from Ecuador, shared his disappointment, lamenting, “It seems that parole doesn’t have much time left for us. It’s all so sad.”
Some migrants in the caravan have expressed resentment toward Latino voters who supported Trump, viewing it as a betrayal given his hardline stance on immigration.
“They forgot about when they were on the other side,” said Mahily Paz, a Venezuelan migrant who had hoped for a more supportive environment for immigrants.
Despite the overwhelming sense of uncertainty, a few migrants remain determined to pursue their journey north.
Jeilimar, another migrant from Venezuela, told Reuters she plans to try to secure an asylum appointment through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s CBP One app before Trump takes office in January 2025.
“With God’s favor, I’ll get that appointment,” she said, holding out hope despite the looming changes in U.S. immigration policy.
Trump has made clear his intentions to reinstate tough border policies. In his victory speech, he pledged to “seal up those borders” and emphasized that only legal immigration would be allowed under his administration.
Policies from his previous term, such as the “Remain in Mexico” program, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their U.S. immigration court date, and expedited deportations, left many migrants stranded in border camps.
These policies are likely to return under his new administration, sparking fears among current migrants.
Trump’s campaign website underscores his intent to reverse the “border disaster” he attributes to the Biden-Harris administration.
His plans include ending “catch and release,” restoring the Remain in Mexico policy, completing construction of the “Trump wall,” and hiring 10,000 additional border patrol agents.
In addition, Trump has signaled his intention to extend deportations to include immigrants admitted under the Biden administration’s Humanitarian Parole program or those holding Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
The new policies have drawn mixed reactions from the American public.
According to a YouGov poll, 53 percent of respondents believe Trump will handle immigration issues effectively, while 45 percent had a more favorable view of Vice President Kamala Harris’s approach.
As Trump prepares to take office, the uncertainty surrounding U.S. immigration policies has left migrants grappling with tough choices.
While some continue to press forward with hope, others are turning back, wary of what lies ahead for those who attempt to cross the border under Trump’s upcoming administration.