At the Border: A Glimpse into the Lives of Migrants Awaiting Change
Just a short distance from the U.S.-Mexico border, a scene unfolds at the Kino Border Initiative shelter where volunteers offer haircuts to migrants. This site, less bustling than usual, reflects the changes two months into the Trump administration as memories of its inauguration linger vividly.
Yohana Oviedo, a spokesperson for the shelter, recalls, “It was one of the most painful moments.”
Many migrants, whose asylum appointments were canceled when Trump assumed office, remain in Nogales, Sonora. The shelter serves as a temporary home for deportees and asylum seekers. However, some have moved to other Mexican cities in search of work while waiting for a chance to cross the border.
Among those holding on to hope is Julio, who fled from Michoacán due to violence. “My plan is to wait and see if there’s a solution,” he said. Julio has been in Nogales for five months after being kidnapped and tortured back home.
The uncertain atmosphere at the border since Trump’s presidency has left many migrants in a state of limbo. Shelters like Casa de la Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones, where Julio resides, offer a refuge for families seeking safety.
Alma Angélica Macías, the shelter’s director, mentions that the shelter currently accommodates about 60 people, fewer than usual. Nevertheless, families from El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico continue to arrive, driven by violence in their regions.
“Some have left, others have arrived,” Macías remarks. While Trump’s presidency is not permanent, many migrants cling to hope for policy changes.
Under the shelter’s large tree, residents engage in creative activities, envisioning a world without borders. The drawings depict families reunited and cars crossing freely.
For Jessica, another shelter resident, the reality hit hard two months ago. Leaving El Salvador after gang threats, she journeyed north, only to miss her asylum appointment by mere hours due to detainment by Mexican authorities. “It hurt a lot,” she expressed, yet remains hopeful for future policy changes.
Jessica and Julio, like many others, continue to wait at the border, driven by the hope of a safer future for their families in the United States.
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