As the flow of migrants to Tijuana declines significantly, the streets and shelters that once bustled with asylum seekers have grown deserted, marking a stark transformation for the border town.
Migrant Presence Dwindles in Tijuana, Once a Hub of Crossings
Migrant Presence Dwindles in Tijuana, Once a Hub of Crossings
Tijuana's once-bustling migrant shelters and streets are nearly empty as the number of people seeking passage to the U.S. dramatically decreases.
In Tijuana, a city historically known for its bustling migrant activity and crossings into Southern California, the current scene is eerily quiet. Shelters once filled to capacity with families and individuals seeking asylum have now seen a dramatic decline in occupancy, with many tents remaining unoccupied.
Long regarded as a key transit point for migrants attempting to reach the U.S., Tijuana’s streets, which previously echoed with the sounds of hopeful individuals waiting for asylum appointments, are now largely deserted. “People aren’t coming here," lamented Lenis Mojica, a Venezuelan migrant residing in a local shelter. His sentiments reflect a broader trend, as many migrants have either departed for other regions or returned home.
The sharp decrease in migrant arrivals has also been observed across other border towns in Mexico. This decline began prior to President Trump taking office but has worsened under his administration's stricter immigration measures. Notably, April 2025 figures illustrate this shift; U.S. border patrol captured just 8,383 individuals, plummeting from 129,000 apprehensions a year prior, and dramatically reducing from an all-time high of nearly 250,000 apprehensions recorded in December 2023.
The story of Tijuana serves as a critical window into the evolving landscape of migration influenced by policy changes and broader sociopolitical issues, with many individuals now reconsidering their routes and options for seeking refuge.
