Election year in Mexico and the US worries migrants and border activists

Migrants and activists on the Mexican border express their concern because in 2024 the presidential elections coincide in Mexico and USAso they fear that this will lead to greater restrictions and deportations.

Both migrants and shelter representatives in Ciudad Juárez, a city on the border with the United States that has become the epicenter of the crisis, hope that when governments change in both countries the laws will be toughened, as the governor did last month. of Texas, Greg Abbott.

The most worrying factor is the return of the former US president donald trump (2017-2021), who has intensified his anti-immigrant rhetoric, explained Pastor Francisco González, from the Somos Uno Shelter Network for Juárez.

“When the government changes, the laws will probably be toughened, like in the case of Texas, where this law that they just approved is in place, where what is going to be achieved is discrimination, which will increase racial discrimination.”the pastor elaborated.

Elections amid record migration

While Mexico will hold elections on June 2, with the ruling party Claudia Sheinbaum leading the polls and a probable continuity of the president’s policies Andrés Manuel López Obradorthe United States will have its elections on November 5 with a possible new dispute between the president Joe Biden and Trump.

The elections will occur after historic numbers in December of people seeking to enter the United States at the border with Mexico, where Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed last month the arrival of more than 2.2 million migrants from January to November .

But Pastor González considered that the campaigns will not stop migration because there are people who no longer see any other option in their countries other than reaching the United States.

“Many people come because they have no other choice, these people, even if the laws are tougher, will continue to come, but now with greater risk,” explained the director of a network that brings together 13 religious shelters in Ciudad Juárez.

Even so, he lamented an increase in hostility and racism against migrants, such as the new Texas law SB4 that since December authorizes Texas police and judges to detain and deport foreigners without due process, although migration is the power of the federal government of USA.

“Now it is complicated (for the migrants) because, the moment they enter there, now any authority will be able to detain them or deport them or, if applicable, put them in jail for up to 20 years,” explained Pastor González.

Uncertainty among migrants

Ana María Puero, from Venezuela, has been in Mexico for five months, four of which have been in Juárez, where she is in a shelter waiting for an appointment with the immigration system. USA..

The Venezuelan thinks that the elections in both countries would complicate her arrival in the United States from the campaigns, especially if Trump wins a second term as president.

“From everything one hears, he doesn’t like immigrants and we don’t know what will happen if he wins,” considered Puero.

There is also fear among migrants from Mexico like Verónica Samudio, from the western state of Michoacán.

She crossed into the United States four months ago, but the authority returned her before processing her under the threat that she would be separated from her grandson.

“I have been here for four months waiting to make everything legal so that they allow us to go where we are going,” he narrated.

He added that he is clear that a change of government in the United States would mean more complications in reaching his destination, especially if the Republican Party regains control. White House.

“With the law that they applied (in Texas) so that the police have the right to deport us, it is wrong because what one seeks is to cross there and, if one comes from one’s town it is because one is fleeing from difficult situations and that cuts off our path”, express.