Hundreds of migrants in southern Mexico are anxiously waiting to enter the United States legally before President-elect Donald Trump ends several humanitarian programs. These programs, initiated under President Joe Biden, have allowed migrants to use the CBP One app to make appointments with U.S. immigration officials and approach ports of entry legally.
In the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, migrants are hoping to secure seats on buses provided by the Mexican government. These buses transport migrants with confirmed CBP One appointments to northern border cities, helping them avoid dangers posed by gangs and organized crime groups along the way.
Venezuelan migrant Johandry Paz expressed relief after securing a CBP One appointment for early January, saying, “We will arrive before President Donald Trump takes office, regardless of the actions he may take.” Other migrants, like Salvadoran Jose Escobar, are in a rush to reach the border before the program is potentially canceled.
The Mexican government runs these bus services two or three times a week, helping migrants travel over a thousand miles to the U.S. border. Since the introduction of CBP One and other humanitarian programs, hundreds of thousands of migrants have been able to enter the U.S. legally and obtain work permits. However, with Trump planning to end these programs once he takes office on January 20, many migrants are racing against time to secure their appointments.