Tijuana (TDI): Migrant shelters in Tijuana – located across the border from San Diego, California – are bracing for a potential surge in the influx of migrants as US President Donald Trump has announced to carry out his mass deportation plan.
Over 30 shelters operate in the Mexican border city located in the northwestern state of Baja California, according to local authorities.
Humanitarian workers said a lack of space, resources, and overall uncertainty are among the problems facing the shelters, according to CNN.
During his inaugural speech on Monday, Donald Trump reiterated his pledge. “We will start the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” the president said from the US Capitol.
Bracing for the possible surge of migrants entering the city, Tijuana authorities declared a state of emergency.
The state of emergency is a procedural step enabling the city to secure funds for renting spaces, as well as covering costs for for legal services, equipment, personnel, and supplies.
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However, Tijuana’s Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz emphasized last week that the city “is not alarmed” describing the measure as a “precaution” in case Trump follows through on his statements.
Burgueño stated the city has prepared spaces should there be a surge of deportees.
Migrant Numbers in Tijuana Remain Unclear
It is unclear how many migrants are currently in the city. Government data shows that from January to August last year more than thirty thousand migrants were in the city at some point.
The Mexican federal government is also preparing for the possible influx of migrants by announcing the establishment of new shelters in border towns and “attending caravans.”
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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on January 3 that many migrants decided to return to their country of origin.
In the face of increasing uncertainty, shelters remain committed to their mission.
