Is Latin America Afraid of Donald Trump Returning to the White House?
While the US election is a hot topic globally, Latin America seems unfazed by the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House. Benjamin Schwab, a program officer for Mexico with Misereor, a Catholic aid organization, believes that Trump’s presidency did not significantly impact migration patterns in the region.
Despite Trump’s promises to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, the project was never completed during his administration. Recent data from the Pew Research Center shows that immigration to the US is at an all-time high, with over 46 million immigrants living in the country in 2022.
President Joe Biden has also taken a tough stance on immigration, leading to a reduction in illegal border crossings. Asylum access has become harder under the Biden administration, prompting many to seek alternative routes to enter the US.
While the crisis in Venezuela has led to a significant exodus of refugees to neighboring Latin American countries, the US remains a popular destination for migrants from around the world. As long as issues like violence and poverty persist in the region, irregular border crossings are likely to continue.
Latin America remains vigilant, but not overly concerned, about the potential impact of US politics on migration patterns.