As US migration rates drop, life on the San Diego border has changed

As US migration rates drop, life on the San Diego border has changed

In recent years, the landscape along the U.S. Mexico border near San Diego has undergone dramatic changes.

Local doctors, advocates, border officials, and community organizations are all witnessing the impact of declining migration attempts an issue that has reshaped daily life on both sides of the border.

    A Sharp Decline in Border-Related Injuries

Just a year ago, hospitals in San Diego frequently treated migrants injured after falling from the high border wall that separates the region from Tijuana. Trauma surgeon Dr. Vishal Bansal of Scripps Mercy Hospital recalls seeing numerous cases each month involving broken legs, spinal injuries, and other serious trauma.

Today, however, the situation looks very different. Trauma bays that once stayed busy with border-related emergencies are now often empty. According to hospital reports, the number of individuals injured from wall falls during the first ten months of 2025 dropped dramatically compared to 2024.

Dr. Bansal notes that this reduction has allowed medical teams to redirect time and resources toward other emergency and elective procedures, easing the strain on hospital staff.

        Changing Border Dynamics

The drop in migration attempts is reflected in U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics, which show apprehensions at the southwest border at their lowest point in decades. In the San Diego Sector alone, migrant encounters in October 2025 fell sharply from the previous year.

This decrease has transformed areas that were once crowded with asylum-seekers.

🔹A transit station that once acted as a temporary processing hub has returned to regular use.

🔹 An informal gathering spot near the border wall previously filled with families waiting to surrender to officials now sits empty.

🔹 Migrant shelters in Tijuana, once overwhelmed, report significant drops in occupancy.

   Legal and Emotional Challenges for Asylum Seekers

According to inewsource While border crossings have declined, challenges remain for those seeking safety in the United States. Immigration advocates in San Diego say navigating the asylum process has become more difficult, causing some migrants to choose voluntary departure rather than pursue their claims.

Many asylum-seekers report concerns about conditions inside detention centers, including overcrowding, limited access to medical care, and lack of basic amenities. Immigration attorneys say these conditions discourage applicants and create emotional strain for families.

   Community Responses and Public Sentiment

The changes in border policy and enforcement have also influenced public opinion. Polling shows a shift in how Americans view national immigration strategies, and the debate continues across the country.

In San Diego, local organizations and community volunteers regularly monitor detention centers and conduct early-morning patrols to provide information and support to immigrant communities.

  Tijuana: A City Adjusting to New Realities

According to Reuters  Across the border, Tijuana has also experienced major shifts. Areas that once hosted large groups of migrants waiting to enter the U.S.—such as the El Chaparral plaza—are now quiet. Taxi drivers, shelter workers, and aid groups note significantly smaller crowds.

Some migrants have decided to remain in Tijuana, integrating into the city while seeking safety and stability. Shelters that once housed more than a thousand individuals now operate at less than half capacity.

According to local mental-health professionals, many who remain are unable to return to their home countries due to threats or violence. Others are simply waiting to see how U.S. policies may change in the future.

At shelters like Assabil which supports migrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, residents share stories of displacement, hope, and resilience. One resident, who fled political persecution in Ghana, expressed a simple message to Americans: compassion matters, and not everyone seeking safety should be feared.

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In Conclusion 

The San Diego–Tijuana border has long been one of the busiest migration corridors in the world. Today, however, declining migration numbers have reshaped the region in ways that impact hospitals, shelters, advocacy groups, and families on both sides.

As policies evolve and global conditions shift, the region continues to adapt balancing security, humanitarian needs, and the complex realities faced by people seeking a better life.