by the El Reportero‘s staff
The municipal government of Tijuana has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of a potential surge in deportations, following the anticipated return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency next week.
On Monday evening, Tijuana Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruíz announced on social media that the city council held an urgent meeting to prepare for the possibility of a significant influx of deported migrants. “We unanimously passed an emergency declaration to ensure the dignified treatment of deportees, uphold their human rights, and allocate the necessary resources,” Burgueño wrote.
With Trump set to begin his second term as president on January 22, he has vowed to implement what he calls the “largest deportation operation in U.S. history.” However, details about the scope and timing of the deportations remain unclear.
Ahead of the meeting, Burgueño presented a proposal that would allow Tijuana to access emergency funds from local budgets to handle the “atypical situation” that may arise if large numbers of deportees arrive. The exact amount of funds has not been specified, but reports suggest the money could cover various needs, including staffing, facility rentals, utilities, internet, and legal assistance. In addition, the emergency declaration will enable Tijuana to seek federal assistance for the anticipated wave of deportees.
Given that many deportees may need temporary shelter and food as they prepare to resettle in Mexico, the city’s existing network of migrant shelters — already under pressure — may not suffice to handle a significant increase in arrivals. Tijuana has been opening new shelters in recent months, but these may still prove inadequate in the face of a large-scale deportation effort.
To address this, Burgueño proposed leasing an industrial space in southern Tijuana capable of accommodating up to 5,000 people. Following the city council meeting, the mayor emphasized that Tijuana’s local government is working closely with both the Baja California state government and federal authorities to coordinate their response.
Mexico’s federal government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has stated that plans to receive deportees are “ready,” although further details have not yet been released. Sheinbaum had also indicated in early January that efforts would be made to encourage the U.S. to deport migrants who are not from Mexico directly to their home countries. However, she acknowledged that Mexico might need to collaborate on deportations if necessary.
According to Alicia Bárcena, Mexico’s former foreign affairs minister, there are roughly 5.3 million undocumented Mexicans living in the United States, with other estimates putting the figure between 4 million and 5 million. In San Diego County alone, about 120,000 undocumented Mexicans are reported to reside, according to the Mexican Consulate.
While the deportation threat looms for many, the contributions of undocumented Mexicans to the U.S. economy have been widely recognized by Mexican officials, further complicating the issue. As the Biden administration transitions to Trump’s second term, it is unclear how the deportation process will unfold and what it will mean for the tens of thousands of migrants and families already caught in the web of U.S. immigration policy.
– With contributions from El Universal, The San Diego Union-Tribune and AFP.
