TAPACHULA – On December 30, hundreds of migrants gathered outside an immigration office in southern Mexico, hoping to secure safe passage to the United States before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January 2025. Trump plans to end President Joe Biden’s humanitarian programs, including the CBP One app, which allows migrants in parts of Mexico to make appointments to enter the US legally.
The Mexican government operates a program that buses migrants with confirmed CBP One appointments from southern Mexico to the northern border, protecting them from gangs and organized crime groups. On December 30, migrants in Tapachula waited to secure seats on these buses, expressing relief at landing coveted CBP One appointments for early January 2025, before Trump takes office on the 20th.
“We will arrive before President Donald Trump takes office, regardless of the actions he may take,” said Venezuelan migrant Johandry Paz. “We already have confirmed appointments and we want to reach our destination: the United States of America.”
The Mexican government’s buses generally run two or three times a week, transporting migrants over a thousand miles north to Mexican border cities. “Yesterday my appointment was confirmed for January 4, 2025, so I’m in a rush to reach the border,” said Salvadoran migrant Jose Escobar.
Hundreds of thousands of migrants have been able to enter the US legally and access work permits as a result of CBP One and other Biden humanitarian programs.