For countless individuals, the journey through the US immigration system ends in a stark, concrete riverbed just south of the border: El Bordo. This dry channel in Tijuana, where the Tijuana River once flowed, has become a makeshift shantytown—a devastating symbol of broken American dreams and the failure of reintegration policies.
Today, El Bordo and the surrounding shelters are once again overwhelmed. Following the US administration’s acceleration of mass deportations and the shuttering of key asylum pathways like the CBP One app in early 2025, Tijuana has become a critical choke point, trapping thousands of people in a painful limbo between two countries.
The Anatomy of the Deportee Crisis
Around 40% of all Mexican immigrants deported from the US are sent back through Tijuana. These are not new arrivals; they are often men and women who lived, worked, and paid taxes in the US for decades, many unable to speak Spanish and torn abruptly from American families.
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The Identity Crisis: Many deportees have no familial or financial ties to Mexico. They remain in Tijuana, gazing at the lights of San Diego, desperate to maintain contact with their children left behind in the US.
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Economic Exclusion: Without proper Mexican identification, finding formal work is nearly impossible. Many are forced into the informal economy or find precarious jobs in call centers—ironically, answering calls from the same American consumers they were just removed from serving.
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The Shelter Divide: While the Mexican government has opened temporary shelters, many deportees choose the perilous conditions of the streets or informal camps over the crowded, autonomous-free environment of the facilities.
El Bordo and the New Policy Reality
El Bordo, while a permanent fixture, sees its population fluctuate violently based on US policy. Recent actions have tightened the noose on those seeking refuge:
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Asylum Denial: The expansion of expedited removal policies means individuals arriving at ports of entry can be swiftly deported, effectively blocking asylum for many fleeing violence in Central and South America.
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The Return to "Remain in Mexico": The threat of reinstating the "Remain in Mexico" program forces non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in dangerous border cities, exposed to organized crime and kidnapping.
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The Environmental Risk: Living in the riverbed exposes residents to harsh environmental conditions, including constant sewage contamination and the danger of flash flooding during the rainy season.
The Human Toll: Trauma and Survival
For the thousands stranded in Tijuana, the challenges go far beyond shelter and work; they are fundamentally psychological.
The experience of deportation creates immense emotional distress, exacerbating anxiety and depression. Deportees, stripped of their social networks and legal status, are highly vulnerable to exploitation by local criminal organizations.
Despite the monumental institutional failures on both sides of the border, the community survives through grassroots solidarity. Local NGOs and church-run shelters provide critical humanitarian aid, serving as the only lifeline against the constant threat of violence, hunger, and the crushing weight of isolation.
The deportee slums of Tijuana are not just a geographical problem; they are a direct consequence of policies that prioritize enforcement over human dignity, leaving broken lives to struggle in a perilous, concrete limbo.
Sources
◦ Latin American Immigration Association - U.S. Immigration Policy Changes (July 2025)
◦ Migration Policy Institute (MPI) - New Era of Immigration Enforcement under Trump 2.0
◦ KPBS Public Media - New Tijuana Shelter Ready for Deportees (Jan 2025)
◦ National Geographic - In Tijuana, Deportees Struggle to Find 'Home'
