Kathmandu: Margelis Rodriguez and her two children arrived in Tijuana with hopes of entering the United States legally, only to find themselves stranded after the sudden cancellation of their immigration appointment. Their journey, marked by months of travel and hardship, reflects the uncertainty faced by thousands of migrants caught in limbo following policy changes under the Trump administration.
Rodriguez, 38, had secured a job and housing in Chicago through a friend and believed her Jan. 21 appointment, scheduled via the U.S. government’s CBP One app, would mark the start of a new life. However, the administration swiftly scrapped all appointments through the app, leaving an estimated 280,000 people uncertain of their next steps.
Now, Rodriguez and her children live in a tent at a Tijuana shelter, unsure of their future. Originally from Tumeremo, Venezuela, she fled gang violence and illegal gold mining operations, enduring a perilous trek through the Darién Gap before spending nine months in Mexico waiting for her U.S. immigration interview.
With limited funds and no way to return to Pachuca, where she briefly worked, Rodriguez is now seeking a Mexican visa to find employment in Tijuana. While she remains wary of illegal crossings, she acknowledges that many migrants, left with few options, are considering the dangerous route.
Her relatives in the U.S., granted humanitarian parole under the Biden administration, now fear deportation under Trump’s policies. As she contemplates her next move, Rodriguez clings to hope that a legal pathway may open again.
“We have been left stranded, stuck in limbo,” she said. “At times, I despair, but I also keep a bit of hope. We just have to start over again.”
Source: AP