Migrants enticed by lax border policies under President Joe Biden now find themselves stranded in dangerous conditions, unable to enter the U.S. and too burdened to return home. Promises of open borders have left millions in limbo as tighter policies take hold following the 2024 election.
Desperate migrants, like Venezuelan Yuleidi Moreno, report horrific experiences along the journey. “I cry every day,” she told Reuters. Facing abuse, poverty, and trauma, many regret the decision to leave their homelands. Another migrant, Yorjelis Maldonado, described the journey as “very dangerous,” noting widespread suffering among women and children.
Since 2021, Biden’s Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has overseen a pro-migration agenda that allowed millions to cross the border. Many migrants risked their lives trekking through perilous terrains like Panama’s Darien Gap, often borrowing heavily to fund their journey. Mayorkas’ policies enabled rampant exploitation, violence, and family separations while undermining economic stability in both the U.S. and migrants’ home countries.
The crisis has worsened as Mexico tightens its border enforcement under pressure from Donald Trump’s campaign promises to secure the U.S. border. With Trump’s inauguration weeks away, migrants are abandoning hope of entering the U.S. Todd Bensman, a migration expert, noted the desperation among migrants, many of whom are turning back. He observed growing encampments in Mexico, where people face grim realities of debt, danger, and dashed dreams.
Reuters reported that Venezuelan officials assist dozens of migrants weekly with “voluntary return” programs. However, others cling to the slim chance of crossing through limited pathways like the CBP-One mobile app. For many, returning home is the only viable option, though the conditions that spurred their migration—violence, poverty, and instability—remain unresolved.
Migrants’ plight highlights the devastating human toll of the Biden administration’s border mismanagement, which promised opportunity but delivered suffering for countless families.
