Dozens of Migrants Seen Traveling South as They Give Up US Dream

Groups of migrants are abandoning their attempts to reach the United States and are instead heading back home amid President Donald Trump's stricter border security measures.

Two groups of more than two dozen migrants turned back after they were encountered by Honduran authorities, according to the U.S. Border Patrol chief.

Newsweek has contacted Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for further comment via email.

Why It Matters

Immigration was a key element of President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign and helped Republicans sweep to power on a national level. While large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans agree that the immigration system is broken, as indicated in a recent New York Times/Ipsos poll, Americans disagree on how policies such as deportations should be carried out.

Trump vowed to "seal the border" and carry out the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history.

Thousands of undocumented immigrants have been arrested by Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents amid a crackdown.

What To Know

According to a post shared by the Border Patrol, at least two groups of migrants—comprising individuals from Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras, Panama, and El Salvador—have been seen traveling south after reversing course on their journey northward.

On February 3, Honduran officials confirmed that a group of 26 migrants, primarily Venezuelans and Cubans, was seen moving south toward Nicaragua. Days later, on February 5, another group of 23 migrants was encountered re-entering Honduras from Guatemala after deciding to turn back from Mexico.

Many of these individuals cited increased border security measures along the U.S.-Mexico border and Mexico's stepped-up containment efforts as key factors in their decision. Migrants have also expressed concerns over the dangers posed by cartel-controlled regions, where extortion, kidnapping, and violence remain prevalent.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported Saturday that there were only 331 encounters in the entire state.

Trump is implementing a full-scale crackdown on migration. This shift is a major factor in why some migrants are choosing to turn back rather than attempt entry under stricter conditions.

What People Are Saying

The Republican president ordered the military to be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border to help reinforce border security measures.

President Donald Trump said at his inauguration: "I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country.

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "These individuals cited the heavy security posture along the U.S.-Mexico border and Mexico's containment efforts as key reasons for reversing course. Families in these groups made a life-saving decision, avoiding the dangers of cartel-controlled territory, where extortion and violence are rampant."

What Happens Next

With President Trump back in office and his administration implementing a near-total shutdown of the U.S.-Mexico border, migration patterns are shifting dramatically. Stricter enforcement policies and enhanced border security have significantly reduced the number of migrants attempting to cross into the U.S.