María José Espinosa, foreign policy expert: ‘Migration is not a problem to be contained, but a reality that must be managed’

She has worked across five borders, 10 countries, and countless cities. She has asked herself the same questions that so many others do: “Who defines who we are and what we can become? Where can we go?” Her connection to migration is deeply rooted in her Cuban identity.

“I have witnessed how permits — or the lack of them — the lack of freedoms, and deprivation have shaped and continue to shape the lives of Cubans. The history of Cuban mobility has always been one of restrictions and pressures, both internal and external, in the struggle to travel, survive, to find a place to put down roots,” says María José Espinosa, 40, a foreign policy expert and executive director of the Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas (CEDA), an organization based in Washington working to promote a governance system that fosters orderly, safe, and regular migration across the region.

Since 2018, Espinosa has visited the southern border of the United States multiple times, noting that “each visit reflects new dynamics shaped by changes in immigration policies.” Her most recent trip, to El Paso, Texas, just three weeks ago, revealed a completely different scene than what she had witnessed before: no people walking, no river crossings, no families at ports of entry, and no groups gathering on the streets of Juárez.

The policies implemented by the Donald Trump administration — who, in his first month in the White House, ordered the elimination of asylum at the border, closed the CBP One program, and deployed thousands of agents — have drastically reduced migrant arrivals. In February, border encounters reached levels not seen since the 1960s, according to experts. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Border Patrol forces detained 11,709 individuals last month, compared to 176,195 apprehensions in February 2024.

Espinosa emphasizes that while border crossings have decreased, it does not mean migration has ceased. “On the contrary, migration has simply been pushed further south and out of the public eye, which will force people to continue crossing irregularly and under dangerous conditions,” she says.

Question. Is it still accurate to refer to the situation at the border as a migration crisis, or has it been resolved?

Answer. There isn’t a crisis in numbers, but many people are waiting to see what happens. In Mexico, there are more than 30,000 people in limbo because CBP One was terminated, which means they’re waiting. Those people aren’t visible, which is very dangerous. Some are in shelters, others in homes, or scattered throughout Mexico. The crisis has been created or exacerbated, in part, by inaction or restrictive policies that have left thousands of migrants without safe and viable options. It’s not just about how many people arrive at a border, but about the political will to manage it in a dignified and humane manner that benefits the host communities.

Q. The suspension of legal migration pathways can lead to greater risks for many. What is the situation like at the border today?

A. Before, there were at least some mechanisms that offered a legal, orderly, and safe way to access protection or alternatives to asylum. Now, with asylum pathways effectively closed, the suspension of CBP One, and the CHNV program — which allowed citizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to apply for humanitarian permits to enter the United States — many migrants are forced to rely on informal or criminal networks to survive. In Juárez, for example, migrants are turning to clandestine housing networks, exposing themselves even further to exploitation and violence.

There is abundant evidence that deterrence policies do not work. In 2019, several countries in the region imposed transit restrictions on Venezuelan citizens, and that was when the Darién route began to “open up” for this nationality, as they could no longer use flights to directly reach Mexico or other countries. In the absence of regular and humanitarian pathways, migrants turn to routes controlled by criminal networks and human traffickers, who exploit their desperation and vulnerability.

Q. Government cuts have affected many organizations. How much has this affected work on the border?

A. The cuts have hit local organizations hard. I spoke with representatives from several of them, and the outlook is bleak. Some have lost up to 80% of their funding, leaving a critical gap in legal assistance, shelters, and food. There are organizations that have been legally attacked, sending a clear message: humanitarian aid is being criminalized. This predates the current U.S. administration and its policies. It is a phenomenon that has been growing in scale over the past 10 years. Organizations across Latin America, the Caribbean, and other regions have been targeted for their human rights work, being accused of absurd actions, from child trafficking to destabilizing governments

Q. What is the situation of migrants and asylum seekers who are stuck in limbo in Mexico?

A. I was in Juárez and witnessed the desperation and uncertainty prevailing among migrants. Without access to asylum in the United States, many don’t know what to do. Some people are considering staying in Mexico. Many are waiting for a change in policies, while others are considering crossing the border. In Ciudad Juárez, we spoke with several migrants who were considering crossing irregularly with the expectation of being deported, as they saw it as a “less dangerous” option than trying to return home from Mexico. Some mentioned that other families had decided to return to South America using their own means or by paying migrant smugglers. Uncertainty is a common denominator throughout the region. Security remains a critical issue.

Q. The main goal of the current U.S. administration is to reduce immigration as much as possible.

A. Migration in the Americas is a challenge that no country can address alone. Managing it effectively requires hemispheric cooperation and a coordinated approach that allows for shared responsibilities between countries and maximizing the economic and social benefits of human mobility. This would greatly help combat the xenophobic discourse that has grown, not only here but around the world. One of the greatest challenges is ensuring that deportation and return processes are dignified, safe, and respect human rights. Cooperation between countries is key to ensuring that those who return can access employment, education, and basic services.

Q. What kind of real policies could provide solutions for migrants?

A. A fundamental component must be the expansion of pathways for regular migration. The lack of accessible and realistic mechanisms for labor mobility or regularization has pushed millions of people into irregular status. We must urgently strengthen temporary employment programs, family reunification, and regularization processes for those who have already migrated once, and even two or three times. Strengthening labor migration is not only a viable alternative to irregular migration, but is also a key tool for economic development. Connecting migrants with employers, ensuring ethical recruitment, and improving labor protection not only benefits those who migrate, but also addresses labor shortages in key sectors and fosters economic growth in receiving countries.

Improving conditions in countries of origin is not only a containment strategy, but also a commitment to the region’s development and stability. It is essential to guarantee access to employment, reduce violence and corruption, and strengthen economic opportunities so that migration becomes an option, not a forced necessity. Migration is not a problem to be contained, but a reality that must be managed in an orderly and fair manner.

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