A report indicates that a growing number of migrants are considering returning home instead of facing the potential consequences of President-elect Trump’s planned border policies. Mexican officials have stated that between 50 to 100 migrants are requesting “voluntary return” to their home countries, with some covering the costs themselves while others rely on state funds. Some migrants attribute their decision to Trump’s plans to eliminate a U.S. government app used to claim asylum with border agents. President Biden’s administration has utilized this application to allow migrants to schedule border crossings and claim asylum in the U.S., but officials from the incoming Trump administration plan to eliminate the program and reinstitute the “remain in Mexico” policy.
Migrants who are waiting to receive appointments in Mexico may find themselves stranded if they are unable to schedule a date before Trump takes office. This leaves them with the options of attempting to cross the border illegally, remaining in Mexico during the asylum process, or returning home. Due to the dangerous environment created by cartels in Mexico, many migrants are expressing a desire to go back to their home countries. Some migrants, such as Yuleidi Moreno and Nidia Montenegro, are traumatized by their experiences and would prefer to return home if they do not receive an appointment.
Trump’s first administration emphasized that its policies were designed to discourage migrants from embarking on the dangerous journey through Mexico to the U.S. border. Migrants often face violence and are at risk of being kidnapped by cartels along the way. Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming border czar, has stated that the new administration will work to curb illegal immigration and target the cartels responsible for violence. Homan mentioned on Fox News that Trump is committed to labeling these cartels as terrorist organizations and using the full resources of the United States to eradicate them.
Overall, the uncertainty surrounding President-elect Trump’s border policies has led some migrants to consider returning home rather than taking their chances at the U.S. border. The potential elimination of asylum claim applications and the reinstitution of the “remain in Mexico” policy have raised concerns for migrants awaiting appointments in Mexico. The dangerous environment created by cartels in Mexico has made some migrants desperate to return to their home countries to escape the trauma and violence they have faced. Trump’s administration has emphasized deterring migrants from undertaking the perilous journey through Mexico, while also targeting the cartels responsible for violence and illegal immigration.
