Tijuana activists watch U.S. midterms as 23,000 face deportation
Border defenders in Mexico urge voters to reverse mass deportations and criminalization that intensified since January 2025.
By Alexander Novak ·
Migrant rights organizations in Tijuana are closely monitoring the upcoming United States midterm elections, assessing how a shift in political power could alter the trajectory of federal immigration policy and the daily realities for those seeking entry into the U.S.
José María García Lara, a local activist, expressed hope that voters will make choices that restore stability. He noted that many families placed their trust in political promises two years ago, only to see their circumstances worsen. García Lara stated, “Espero que tomen la mejor decisión, ya que hace dos años volvieron a creer en que todo iba a cambiar, pero lamentablemente en el tema migratorio muchas familias ya fueron afectadas, y ahora queda en ellos que esto realmente cambie, que tomen la mejor decisión para que todo vuelva a la normalidad.”
Raúl Ochoa, another activist, argued that U.S. immigration policy has grown stricter since January 2025. He cited a rise in mass deportations and new measures that have effectively criminalized migration in the eyes of the public. Ochoa emphasized that these actions have had a direct impact on the Tijuana border community, with individuals being sent to countries other than their homelands.
According to Ochoa, more than 23,000 people have been deported to 29 different countries and territories. He described the removal of migrants to third countries as deeply unjust, a trend he believes voters must address in the upcoming election cycle.
José Luis Pérez Canchola, from the Municipal Human Rights Directorate, provided historical context on the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. economy. He pointed out that American agricultural and livestock sectors have relied heavily on Mexican labor since the territorial separation. Pérez Canchola stated, “Si uno revisa la historia, la economía de los Estados Unidos ha crecido gracias a los mexicanos, desde la separación de los territorios, al paso de los años se convirtieron en grandes cultivos y ganadería, eran los mexicanos.”
Defenders in the region continue to track the potential legislative and political outcomes of the election day. They note that U.S. decisions will directly shape the flow of migration and the conditions faced by individuals remaining in the Mexican borderlands.
Source: KUAN-LD
