Mexican Migrant Shelters Remain Empty Despite Trump’s Deportation Threat

TIJUANA, Mexico, Feb 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Shelters prepared for deported migrants in Mexico remain largely vacant, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s vow to expel millions of undocumented individuals following his return to office.

Several of the 12 reception centers established in Mexico’s northern border states to accommodate deportees have seen little activity, according to reports. Although Trump has pledged mass deportations, official figures indicate no significant rise in expulsions. Many of the Mexicans who are sent back opt to return home rather than stay at government-run shelters.

In Tijuana, authorities declared an “emergency” in January to prepare for a potential surge of deportees. However, Monica Vega, coordinator of the Flamingos shelter, noted that such an influx has not materialized. “So far, there is no indication that it’s happening, simply based on the numbers,” she said.

The Flamingos shelter, one of nine designated for returning Mexican nationals, has a capacity for 2,600 people but has only accommodated around 55 deportees per day.

Since Trump’s inauguration on January 20, approximately 12,255 Mexicans and 3,344 foreign nationals have been deported to Mexico, according to the country’s immigration authority. Comparatively, during 2024 under President Joe Biden, monthly deportations averaged 17,200 Mexicans and 3,091 foreigners.

The Biden administration deported 271,484 migrants between October 2023 and September 2024, marking the highest figure in the past decade. However, since Trump took office, migrant arrivals at Mexico’s borders with both the U.S. and Guatemala have sharply declined.

At Mexico’s southern border, authorities report a 90 percent drop in crossings, while a 60 percent decline has been observed along the U.S.-Mexico frontier near El Paso, Texas.

‘Mexico Embraces You’ Initiative

In response to Trump’s deportation policies, the Mexican government has stationed 10,000 soldiers along the 3,100-kilometer border with the U.S., part of an agreement that prompted Trump to delay proposed tariffs on Mexican goods.

Additionally, 1,250 officials have been assigned to assist deportees under the government’s “Mexico Embraces You” program. Despite the readiness, the lack of deportees has left staff with little work.

In Matamoros, one shelter with a 3,000-person capacity has never housed more than 150 migrants in a day. Similarly, a facility in Nuevo Laredo designed for 1,200 people has only received around 50 deportees daily. At some sites, National Guard personnel deployed for security have been seen idly passing time.

Although large-scale deportations have yet to occur, the Mexican government has shown no intention of scaling back its support initiatives while Trump’s immigration policies remain uncertain.

It is estimated that at least 11 million undocumented immigrants reside in the U.S., including several million Mexicans. Many of those who have been deported report experiencing abrupt removals and distressing treatment.

“They pointed guns at me as if I were a criminal,” said Jose de Jesus Enriquez, 45, who lived undocumented in California for nearly two decades, working in cleaning and construction. “They dragged me out, handcuffed me, and treated me badly. I demanded a call to my lawyer, the Mexican consulate, or an immigration judge, but they refused everything,” he recounted from Tijuana.