'Chaos has gone' - quiet streets on Texas border after Trump crackdown

November 9, 2025

The US-Mexico border, particularly in El Paso, Texas, has experienced a dramatic transformation with migrant detentions dropping to a 50-year low since President Trump took office. Areas that previously housed thousands of migrants waiting for asylum processing now stand largely empty, with shelter networks shrinking from 22 facilities to just two in the region. The decline stems from multiple factors including Mexican enforcement efforts, elimination of humanitarian parole programs, stricter asylum rules, and Trump's interior deportation campaign serving as a deterrent.

Who is affected

Migrants previously camping at Sacred Heart Catholic church and throughout El Paso shelters
Undocumented immigrants living in the US, including those with employment authorization or temporary protected status that has been revoked
Long-time US residents without criminal records being detained and deported (over 70% of nearly 60,000 people held by end of September)
Border community residents in El Paso, Eagle Pass, and Rio Grande City
Annunciation House volunteer network (reduced from 22 to 2 shelters)
Local families with relatives on both sides of the border
Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House
Marisa Limon Garza and Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center clients

What action is being taken

Immigration agents are ramping up arrests along the border and in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland
The Mexican government is cracking down on migrant flows northward
The US military is providing increased surveillance assistance at the border
Immigration officials are detaining migrants without releasing them into the US (six straight months with zero releases reported)
Many migrants are being deported while others remain in immigration detention
Annunciation House is operating two remaining shelters serving 15-20 migrants nightly

Why it matters

This represents a fundamental shift in US immigration policy and border management, with detention figures reaching historic lows not seen in 50 years. The situation demonstrates the effectiveness of combined enforcement measures and deterrence strategies in reducing unauthorized border crossings. The dramatic change has significant humanitarian implications, as data shows that over 70% of detained individuals have no criminal record, contradicting official claims that enforcement targets "the worst of the worst." This creates moral and political tensions in border communities where residents—including Trump supporters—are witnessing friends, family members, and neighbors with decades of US residency facing deportation, challenging the notion that strong border security and compassion are mutually exclusive.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC