Migrants Abandon Caravan As Trump Win Kills 'Dream of Getting Out'

Migrants are abandoning a caravan headed for the United States because Donald Trump's election win has dashed their "dream of getting out".

The caravan, which began earlier this week in southern Mexico, included approximately 3,000 migrants seeking asylum or economic opportunities in the U.S.

However, as news of the President Elect's victory reached their phones, many decided to turn back, fearing deportation.Trump has vowed to initiate a mass deportation program during his next term in the White House.

"This is the end of my dream of getting out of Cuba," said Felipe, a Cuban migrant who expressed frustration and disappointment at the election results.

Many migrants from South and Central America, like Felipe, join Telegram channels and other social media groups to share information about the U.S. immigration system.

Other migrants in the caravan expressed frustration at what they see as a betrayal by fellow Latinos who supported Trump, given the former president's hardline stance on immigration.

"They forgot about when they were on the other side," said Mahily Paz, a Venezuelan migrant.

"Hopefully not, but it seems that parole doesn't have much time left for us. It's all so sad," said Abel, a young man from Ecuador who had hoped to access the U.S. asylum program.

However, some migrants remain resolute in their journey.

Speaking to Reuters, another Venezuelan migrant, identified only as Jeilimar, explained that she hopes to secure an asylum appointment via the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's CBP One app before Trump takes office in January 2025.

"With God's favor, I'll get that appointment," she said.

Trump's plans to impose tougher border controls, including deportations and limitations on asylum claims, have cast doubt over the possibility of migrants successfully crossing into the U.S..

In his victory speech, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to "seal up those borders" and stressed that legal immigration would be the only accepted path into the U.S.

Under his previous administration, strict policies such as the "Remain in Mexico" program and expedited deportations were enforced, leaving many migrants stranded in border camps.

"President Trump will shut down the Harris-Biden Administration's border disaster," the former president's website reads, alongside promises to end "catch and release" practices, and to restore the Remain in Mexico policy, in place between January 2019 and June 2022, which required asylum seekers to remain in Mexico until their U.S. immigration court date.

Alongside completing what he calls the "Trump wall," the former president has also pledged to hire an additional 10,000 border patrol agents.

In late September, the former president said that his deportation program would extend to those immigrants admitted under the Biden Administration's Humanitarian Parole program, or those allowed to stay in the country under Temporary Protected Status.

According to YouGov, 53 percent of respondents believe Trump would do well when it comes to immigration, compared to 45 percent for Harris.