In Ciudad Juarez, under the shadow of a massive crucifix, Mexican workers are constructing a tent city to accommodate thousands of deportees expected from the United States. This initiative is part of a broader response to what former U.S. President Donald Trump describes as “the largest deportation in American history.”
Juarez, one of eight Mexican border cities preparing for this anticipated influx, serves as a focal point for these efforts. Men in boots and caps are building temporary shelters on the old fairgrounds, once graced by Pope Francis in 2016, transforming the site into a refuge for deportees. These individuals, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for years as casual laborers, domestic workers, or farmhands, now face uncertain futures in Mexico.
The Mexican government’s “Mexico Embraces You” program promises food, medical care, and assistance with identity documents for returnees. President Claudia Sheinbaum has assured that deportees will qualify for social programs, pensions, and immediate employment opportunities. “Mexico will do everything necessary to care for its compatriots,” emphasized Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez.
Despite these efforts, the scale of the challenge is immense. An estimated 5 million undocumented Mexicans live in the U.S., and the possibility of a mass return threatens to overwhelm border cities like Juarez and Tijuana. Shelters, such as Juventud 2000 in Tijuana, are already nearing capacity. Director Jose Maria Garcia Lara voiced concerns about limited resources, warning that a simultaneous influx of deportees and migrants fleeing violence could create a humanitarian crisis.
Adding to the strain is Trump’s controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy, which mandates that non-Mexican asylum seekers await U.S. court hearings in Mexico. While Sheinbaum has firmly rejected this plan, tensions persist as both nations navigate the complexities of immigration and border security.
Meanwhile, U.S. troops have been deployed to enforce the crackdown, and Mexican soldiers are preparing shelters like the Flamingos events center in Tijuana, which now houses 1,800 beds. The first deportees, arriving via routine processes, symbolize the start of an era that could redefine U.S.-Mexico relations and profoundly impact countless lives.
Mexico faces an uphill battle, balancing compassion for returnees with the logistical and social challenges of reintegration. For many deportees, this return marks a journey back to a country they may barely recognize, underscoring the human cost of geopolitical decisions.
