Migrants Reassess Journeys as Trump Promises Tough Immigration Policies

With Donald Trump returning to the White House, individuals like Daniel García, a Venezuelan in Colombia, are delaying their migration plans. The incoming administration's anticipated hardline stance on immigration is triggering a reevaluation among potential migrants, with humanitarian groups on alert for possible influxes before Trump's inauguration.

This past Sunday was meant to signify a pivotal moment for Daniel García, a Venezuelan delivery worker residing in Bogotá, Colombia, as he planned to embark on a challenging journey to the United States. The election of Donald Trump as president-elect suddenly altered his aspirations. Uncertainty about reaching the U.S. border before Trump's inauguration, paired with fears of being turned away under stricter immigration policies, compelled García, 31, to put his plans on hold.

"It is a very high investment," he stated, contemplating the significant expenses involved in such a journey—approximately $2,500, representing nearly a year’s worth of savings. “I prefer not to risk it,” he noted, as Trump's election solidifies the prospect of a tough immigration climate.

As Mr. Trump assumes office in January, many prospective migrants are reconsidering their paths, with border officials bracing themselves to anticipate the implications of a Trump presidency on migration numbers. Throughout the campaign, Trump's hardline rhetoric against immigration resonated widely, prompting humanitarian organizations and immigration officials in Mexico to prepare for a potential increase in individuals seeking to reach the U.S. before his inauguration.

The emphasis on a strict immigration policy under Trump has made many hopeful migrants hesitant, altering migration dynamics and prompting them to weigh their options carefully in light of a considerably different political landscape.