The immigration debate in the United States remains a deeply contentious and visible issue, with cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland witnessing almost daily demonstrations as immigration authorities increase arrests. However, in El Paso, Texas—a city situated on the US-Mexico border—the atmosphere is strikingly different. Once chaotic and bustling with migrant activity, the streets and shelters of El Paso have grown unusually quiet, marking a stark contrast to previous years.
A year after the BBC last visited El Paso to report on the migrant crisis, many of the locations that had been overwhelmed with migrants are now largely deserted. Just a few years ago, the area outside the historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown El Paso was home to as many as 2,500 migrants. They camped on donated blankets along the streets, waiting patiently for food and water handed out by local charities. Nearby parks and shelters were also crowded with migrants sharing stories of their perilous journeys—trekking through jungles and deserts, facing detention, robbery, and even attempted kidnappings on their way northward through Latin America.
The influx of migrants had overwhelmed the city’s resources, forcing El Paso’s government to declare a state of emergency in late 2022 as shelters reached beyond their capacity. With the arrival of President Donald Trump in January 2023, who campaigned heavily on promises to “fix the border,” the flow of migrants into El Paso slowed dramatically. This slow-down was not confined to El Paso alone but was observed across the entire 1,900-mile US-Mexico border stretching from California’s Pacific Coast to Texas’ Gulf Coast.
Recent data underscores this significant shift. Detentions of border crossers have plummeted to a 50-year low. In September 2024—the latest month with complete data—only 11,647 people were detained along the entire US-Mexico border. This number sharply contrasts with figures from the previous year, when September 2023 saw 269,700 detentions, and September 2024 had 101,000. This dramatic decline reflects the broader success of border security measures implemented during Trump’s presidency and sustained thereafter.
One local organization, Annunciation House, which once operated up to 22 shelters to accommodate thousands of migrants paroled into the US while awaiting their court dates—sometimes years in the future—now runs only two shelters. These remaining facilities serve just 15 to 20 migrants each night, many of whom are not newly arrived but are instead returning home after years in the United States. Ruben Garcia, the director of Annunciation House, explained that some migrants are unable to renew their employment authorizations or temporary protected status because of policy changes under Trump’s administration, forcing them to leave due to economic hardship. Others simply need a temporary place to stay as they arrange their departure.
For many residents along the border, the quieter streets are a welcome change. Demesio Guerrero, a naturalized US citizen originally from Mexico living in eastern Texas, described the border situation under the Biden administration as “chaos everywhere.” He recalled tents and encampments filled with women, children, and elderly people stretching along the border, creating what he saw as an uncontrollable situation. Guerrero credits Trump’s policies for restoring order, stating that Trump “did what he had to do, where he had to do it.”
Government officials echo this sentiment, declaring that for six consecutive months, no undocumented migrants arrested at the border were released into the US. Many have been deported, while others remain in detention facilities. Tom Homan, a former border czar, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have both asserted that the government now has full “operational control” of the border—something unprecedented in US history.
The White House views these developments as a major victory, fulfilling campaign promises that were central to Trump’s 2024 re-election bid. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told the BBC that their strategy has been “wildly successful” in reversing what they describe as “pro-illegal immigration policies” from the Biden administration, which allegedly allowed uncontrolled numbers of migrants to enter the country. The Biden administration’s approach, according to Jackson, has been replaced with “secured borders.”
Experts and officials point to multiple factors behind the reduced migration numbers. These include a crackdown on migrant flows by Mexican authorities, the end of many humanitarian parole programs, stricter asylum rules, and increased surveillance supported by the US military. Additionally, Trump’s aggressive deportation campaigns