Mexico Braces for Deportation Surge as US Border Policies Shift

Mexico is rapidly preparing for a potential surge in deportations from the United States, as President Donald Trump implements his promised hardline immigration policies, The Associated Press reports.

On Wednesday, construction crews in Ciudad Juárez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, were seen erecting large tent shelters. Enrique Serrano, a Chihuahua state official, explained that this is just the initial phase of a larger operation, and that capacity will be increased if migrant numbers continue to rise. He indicated that migrants from other countries may be relocated to Mexico City or southern regions, a practice used in the past.

Similar preparations are underway in other border cities. Nogales announced it would construct shelters on soccer fields and in a gymnasium, while Matamoros and Piedras Negras have launched similar efforts.

The increased activity comes in the wake of recent policy changes by the Trump administration. On Monday, the US scrapped the CBP One app, which allowed asylum seekers to schedule appointments ahead of time. Then on Wednesday, the Pentagon announced the deployment of up to 1,500 active-duty troops to the border. These moves, coupled with the promise of increased deportations, have triggered the need for greater Mexican preparedness.

At a border crossing in Tijuana on Tuesday night, two men told journalists they had been deported, with one saying he was arrested in farm fields near Denver and the other having come from Oregon. Both carried their belongings in small orange bags. These accounts, while not independently verified, highlighted the scope of possible deportations.

Despite the growing tension, official deportation numbers on Tuesday were lower than the previous year’s average, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Many migrant shelters along the border also remain relatively empty compared to the high levels seen just a year prior. Nevertheless, Sheinbaum said Mexico will offer humanitarian aid to migrants, including those whose asylum appointments were canceled and those sent to wait in Mexico under the revived “Remain in Mexico” policy.

The Mexican government is planning to build nine new shelters in border cities to accommodate deportees. They will also use existing facilities in Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, and Matamoros for those whose US asylum appointments were cancelled. Additionally, the Mexican government plans to bus deportees to their homes in the interior and provide them with cards worth 2,000 pesos (about $100) for basic needs upon arrival.

Meanwhile, migrant shelters are bracing for a potential increase in numbers. Garcia, head of a Tijuana shelter, said discussions are underway to prepare for an influx. In Ciudad Juárez, Rev. Juan Fierro, head of the Good Samaritan shelter, has seen the shelter’s population shift from single men seeking work to families seeking asylum over the years, with migration numbers fluctuating with US political shifts. He noted that Trump’s previous “Remain in Mexico” policy forced many to stay at his shelter much longer. His shelter has seen a low number of migrants this week, but he worries about a surge, especially as he hopes to provide deportees with time to consider their options.

The new developments have also prompted communication between the two countries. Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente and the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held their first telephone conversation in their new positions, emphasizing the importance of dialogue amid the evolving situation.