Hundreds of migrants formed long lines outside an immigration office in southern Mexico on Monday, seeking safe passage to the U.S. before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January. Trump has pledged to end President Joe Biden’s humanitarian programs, including CBP One, an app allowing migrants to secure legal entry appointments at U.S. ports of entry.
To safeguard migrants from gangs and organized crime, the Mexican government has been busing those with confirmed CBP One appointments from southern Mexico to northern border cities. The buses, running two to three times weekly, cover over a thousand miles to facilitate safer travel.
In Tapachula, migrants expressed relief over obtaining appointments before Trump’s January 20 inauguration. Venezuelan migrant Johandry Paz, who secured an early January appointment, said, “We will arrive before President Donald Trump takes office, regardless of the actions he may take. We want to reach our destination: the United States of America.”
Salvadoran migrant Jose Escobar, whose appointment was confirmed for January 4, shared his urgency: “I’m in a rush to reach the border.”
Hundreds of thousands of migrants have used CBP One and other Biden-era programs to enter the U.S. legally and access work permits. However, as Trump’s administration nears, uncertainty looms over these humanitarian initiatives. Migrants are racing against time to ensure a legal entry, hoping to avoid the harsher policies expected under Trump’s leadership.
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