Tijuana migrant shelters report historic lows in arrivals

First, list of detected resources in order of appearance:
1. CBP One overview (uscis_resource) — appears as “CBP One overview” in article text with an existing link to cbp.gov.
2. CBP One overview (form) — same resource name appears once (but it’s the same phrase).
3. Mexico te abraza (policy) — appears as “Mexico te abraza” initiative.
4. Mexico te abraza initiative (policy) — same phrase repeated.

Now I will add only verified .gov links for the first mention of each distinct resource in the article body, up to 5 links, preserving all content and formatting exactly and changing nothing else.

Updated article with added government links:

(TIJUANA) Tijuana’s network of migrant shelters is reporting historically low occupancy, undercutting early-year fears of a surge linked to stepped-up enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸. As of September 10, 2025, operators say most beds sit empty, a startling shift after years of crowding. Several leaders report an average occupancy of about 25%, with some sites noting a 70% decrease in residents compared with late 2024.

The decline follows U.S. policy moves under President Trump that have narrowed asylum access and increased rapid removals.

Current shelter conditions and operations

Casa Del Migrante, long a barometer for regional migration, now hosts about 40 residents out of 140 beds. Pastor-led facilities that once sheltered families packed floor-to-ceiling now count a few dozen people at most. One large shelter with space for 1,300 reports just 31 residents.

Staff who spent years triaging crowded dorms describe a new routine: deep cleaning, preventative maintenance, and scaled-back meal service, shaped by falling arrival numbers and lower demand.

Key data points:
– Immigration and Customs Enforcement recorded just over 28,000 deportations in the first seven weeks of 2025.
– Roughly 100 Mexicans are deported to Tijuana daily, mostly recent border crossers rather than long-term U.S. residents.

Despite these returns, many deported people quickly board buses to other Mexican cities or return to home regions, and those movements have not translated into higher shelter occupancy.

Policy changes affecting flows

Several U.S. policy moves have reshaped migrant decision-making and movement toward Tijuana:

• On January 20, 2025, the CBP One app was shut down and replaced by a tool that emphasizes voluntary return over processing. The app’s closure canceled thousands of pending slots and shrank a key lawful path to approach U.S. officials. For background on how the system worked before the shutdown, see the official CBP One overview.
• Expanded “expedited removal” rules mean many people who can’t show two years of lawful presence in the U.S. risk immediate deportation, even if they fear returning.
• Advocates say people arriving at official ports of entry face greater odds of being turned away without screening.

Combined, these shifts have chilled movement toward Tijuana and kept beds empty despite daily removals across nearby ports.

Funding cuts and service reductions

A funding squeeze is forcing shelters to scale back help:
– U.S. foreign aid cuts have led to the suspension of medical, psychological, and food programs in multiple facilities.
– Casa Del Migrante reports a 40% budget loss, with warnings that services could be reduced again—or doors closed—if new support is not in place by early summer.

Shelter staff say they are juggling lower demand with fewer resources, a fragile balance that could break if flows suddenly climb.

Security risks and local response

The calm on occupancy hides rising threats:

• Several shelters report attempted arson, gunfire near entrances, and harassment by organized crime seeking to exploit people in transit.
• Workers describe fear, exhaustion, and reluctance to file formal complaints due to concerns about retaliation.
• Security coordination with local authorities remains inconsistent, prompting staff to invest in cameras, stricter entry rules, and emergency drills.

Local government proposals:
– Tijuana’s mayor has announced a government-run shelter with 10,000 beds for deportees. Community groups welcome help but question whether a mega-site fits real needs if arrivals remain low and security risks persist.

Mexico’s federal response:
– The “Mexico te abraza” initiative added large tents and rented venues like the Flamingos Eventos Hall, with space for 2,500, anticipating mass returns that have yet to materialize at expected scale.

Shelter leaders stress the importance of readiness: in a volatile policy environment, flows can change overnight.

Changes in migrant choices and shelter network makeup

With the U.S. path narrowed, migrants are adjusting:
– More people are applying for protection in Mexico.
– Some return home or travel to other Mexican regions to find work.
– Others wait and watch policy signals for a safer opening.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these choices reflect a simple calculus: fewer legal pathways north, higher risks at the border, and rising costs across the journey.

Shelter network snapshot:
– Tijuana currently counts 31 shelters: 28 private and 3 government-run, down from pandemic-era peaks.
– Specialized sites have opened for groups often left without services, including facilities for women and children and a faith-run center serving Muslim migrants—each with room for about 150 residents.
– These centers provide medical care, meals, legal screening, job training, and child care.

If trends reverse, capacity could be tested fast. Advocates warn that a sharp increase in deportations could fill hundreds of beds within days, but money and staffing are already thin.

Operational concerns and contingency proposals

Many programs that once helped newcomers find rental rooms, school placements, or basic medical care have been paused. Leaders privately worry a sudden wave would force harsh triage decisions: who gets a bed, who gets a meal, and who sleeps outside.

Shelter operators recommend several measures:
1. Pre-arranged overflow sites to activate if occupancy spikes.
2. Rapid funding triggers tied to border activity.
3. Clear lines of communication between local officials and federal agencies.
4. Targeted city vouchers for temporary hotel stays to ease pressure on dorms without building unused mega-sites.

Important: If deportations increase sharply or policy changes reopen controlled entry, beds will fill quickly. Occupancy is the key metric to watch.

Advice for migrants and frontline staff

At street level, the guidance is practical:
– Services exist but may be limited; wait times for legal help can stretch.
– Staff recommend arriving with identification, contact numbers for relatives, and a basic plan for food and transport if a shelter can’t host immediately.
– For those exploring U.S. options, lawyers urge caution and up-to-date advice—rules, screenings, and timelines continue to change quickly.

Families arriving today still need careful screening, trauma support, and safe transport. People deported after years in the U.S. need help contacting relatives and deciding whether to continue south or seek work in Baja.

Final picture: fragile calm

For now, the picture is paradoxical:
– Dorms are quiet, kitchens cook fewer meals, and waiting rooms sit half-empty.
– Yet the system feels fragile—squeezed by funding cuts, targeted by crime, and overshadowed by policy shifts beyond the city’s control.

For the people behind the numbers—parents with toddlers, teens traveling alone, older adults fearing crime—the stakes are deeply personal, measured not only in policies but in the safety of a place to sleep tonight.