Abigail Castillo, a migrant from Mexico, attempted to cross the U.S. border illegally despite hearing about President Joe Biden's decision to halt asylum processing. She, along with others from Brazil and Ecuador, missed the deadline and faced deportation under the new rule.
Many migrants expressed uncertainty after Biden's invocation of presidential powers to stop asylum processing when illegal crossings exceeded 2,500 in a day. The first deportations under the new rule took place on Wednesday.
Migrants like Sergio Franco, who journeyed from Ecuador with his family, remained hopeful of finding refuge in the U.S. despite the challenges. Asylum processing will remain suspended until daily arrests fall below 1,500 for a week.
There are concerns about the effectiveness of the new measure in deterring large-scale migrant entries, given Mexico's limited capacity to accept non-Mexican migrants and logistical challenges in deporting individuals to distant countries.
In Matamoros, Mexico, migrants expressed concerns about increased competition for limited slots to enter legally through U.S. Customs and Border Protection's online app. The system has faced technical issues due to high demand.
Despite the hurdles, migrants like Juan Daniel Medina emphasized the importance of legal avenues for seeking asylum to avoid risks associated with illegal border crossings.
Asylum-seekers continue to navigate a complex system, with many facing uncertainty about their future as they await processing in overwhelmed immigration courts across the country.
