Shelters are nearly empty, and local humanitarian groups are scrambling to survive. The new reality is a stark reflection of the sweeping changes in US immigration policy under President Donald Trump. It follows the administration’s termination of the CBP One app, a tool that allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments at US ports of entry.
A US shutdown of foreign aid is starting to have devastating impacts around the world. Health programs and even military assistance are now paused in many countries. In Latin America, some fear that the aid freeze could hurt economic programs and encourage more people to migrate to the United States.
As the US increases deportation flights to crack down on illegal immigration, some Latin American nations are complaining about how their citizens are being treated. Meanwhile, as tensions with the US increase, China could be stepping in to try and fill the void.