Migrant Family Flees U.S. After Trump Victory, Faces Ruin at Border

Fear of Deportation Drives Return to Mexico, Where All Savings Confiscated

A Mexican couple, seeking refuge from cartel violence, found their hopes for a new life in the United States shattered following Donald Trump’s election. Their dreams of stability dissolved into fear and financial devastation upon returning to their homeland.

A Brief Respite in Arizona

For seven months, Sonia Coria and Carlos Leon, both 25, had built a fragile new existence in Glendale, Arizona. They shared a modest apartment with Coria‘s aunt, working odd jobs and enrolling their children, eight-year-old Naomi and five-year-old Carlos, in local schools. The family cherished small joys, like Naomi learning to swim in a community pool, a stark contrast to the dangers they left behind in Uruapan, Michoacan.

Their efforts to establish themselves included purchasing a used Ford F-150 pickup for $4,000 on an installment plan. Despite relying on food banks and scavenging for household items, life in Arizona offered a semblance of security and opportunity previously unimaginable in Mexico.

Election Night Fears Ignite Departure

However, the election of Donald Trump ignited profound anxiety. Having entered the U.S. legally and applied for asylum, the family feared losing everything they had painstakingly acquired. We run the risk of them taking away the little we’ve managed to scrape together, Coria confided to her husband as election results unfoled on television.

The couple’s account, supported by documentation shared with Reuters, details their descent into despair. As the Trump administration signaled its intent for widespread deportations, the family grappled with the agonizing decision of whether to stay or flee.

‘Project Homecoming’ and the Push for Self-Deportation

The Trump administration pursued a strategy of encouraging voluntary departures, a tactic highlighted by initiatives like the CBP Home app and “Project Homecoming,” which offered financial incentives for undocumented immigrants to leave. This approach aimed to reduce formal deportations and create a narrative of migrants leaving “on their own terms.”

Mexican government figures indicate that over 56,000 Mexicans voluntarily returned from the U.S. after Trump’s return to office, a trend mirroring historical “self-deportation” campaigns during periods of heightened immigration enforcement.

A Harrowing Return Journey

On January 19, the family packed their belongings into their F-150, preparing for the three-hour drive to the Mexican border. A recent witnessing of a neighbor’s deportation and advice from a lawyer at the Mexican consulate in Phoenix—though the consulate could not confirm their January visit—solidified their decision to leave before Trump’s inauguration.

Their flight from Mexico stemmed from escalating cartel violence in Uruapan, a city known for its high murder rate. Leon, who worked as a security guard at an avocado farm, had been targeted by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, forcing the family to flee.

Confiscation and Despair at the Border

Upon reaching the Dennis DeConcini border crossing in Nogales, Mexican National Guard officers stopped their truck. Lacking the car’s official title, only a temporary permit, officials confiscated the vehicle and demanded $5,000, their entire savings, as a fine. Leon was threatened with arrest for vehicle smuggling.

We lost everything, Coria recounted, tears in her eyes. We left with nothing and came back worse off. The family was left stranded with their remaining possessions, facing an uncertain future.

A spokesperson for Mexico’s National Customs Agency stated that its offices operate within the legal framework governing border crossings. President Claudia Sheinbaum has vowed to strengthen programs aimed at assisting returning migrants and preventing corruption at customs checkpoints.

Humanitarian Aid and a Bleak Reality

As night fell, Sonia Coria and Carlos Leon, along with their children, were discovered by Francisco Olachea of Voices from the Border, a humanitarian organization. With the help of Salvavision, they secured bus tickets and aid for the family’s arduous journey to Uruapan.

The family returned to Uruapan to find shelter in cramped conditions at Coria‘s mother’s home. Leon eventually found work at a car repair shop, and Coria secured a job at a Chinese restaurant. Young Carlos misses his bicycle, and Naomi is struggling to retain her English proficiency.

In June, the family received official notification that their truck had been seized by the federal treasury and that they owed approximately $18,000 in customs duties for bringing the vehicle into Mexico.