'We don’t know what to do': Trump’s deportation pledges spark alarm among Migrants

Tapachula, Mexico: As former US President Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House with promises of mass deportations, migrants in Mexico are growing increasingly worried about the fate of their asylum appointments. Many fear that appointments scheduled with US authorities, some even on Inauguration Day, January 20, might not be honoured under the new administration.  

"There is a kind of sense of despair," said Yusmelis Villalobos, a Venezuelan migrant whose appointment is set for January 23.

Dayana Hernandez, another Venezuelan, echoed similar concerns.

"It's no secret that sometimes when Donald Trump says things, he does them," said the 36-year-old.  

The uncertainty is particularly acute for Venezuelans like Hernandez, who are fleeing the political and economic turmoil under President Nicolas Maduro.

"We really don't know what to do, whether to go back, keep going forwards – we really don't know," she added.  

Trump’s immigration rhetoric sparks fears  

During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump implemented strict immigration policies and pressured Mexico to halt the flow of migrants from Central America. His anti-immigrant rhetoric, including accusations of migrants "poisoning the blood of our country," has left many migrants uncertain about their future.  

Hernandez made a heartfelt appeal to the president-elect: "Just as there are bad people, there are good people who want to work."  

The challenge of asylum appointments  

Under outgoing President Joe Biden, the CBP One mobile app was introduced to curb illegal migration. It allows migrants to make appointments for asylum requests and obtain work permits while their cases are processed. However, there is no guarantee they will be allowed to remain in the United States.  

Anais Rojas, a 20-year-old Venezuelan mother, is also scheduled for a January 23 appointment and is grappling with uncertainty.

"Thank God we got the appointment, but of course things are still uncertain. We don't know what will happen," she said.  

In Tapachula, a city near the Guatemala border, migrants are waiting for travel permits to reach the US border. Without these permits, they risk being detained by Mexican authorities.  

Overcrowding near the city’s immigration office has led to frustration, and some migrants have taken to travelling on foot in caravans, enduring hunger, exhaustion, and the cold.  

Balancing fear and hope  

Despite Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, some migrants remain cautiously optimistic. "I don't feel hate toward Trump," said Rojas. "If the economy is better, it benefits us too."  

As Trump’s inauguration approaches, migrants like Hernandez and Rojas cling to hope, even as the path ahead remains uncertain. "There's a reason he won," said Rojas, hoping for economic stability that could indirectly improve their chances in the United States.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants, fleeing violence and poverty, continue their perilous journeys across Mexico every year. 

AFP