This May 2026 Migration Dynamics and Conditions Update focuses on current U.S. asylum restrictions at ports of entry and migrants’ experiences in Mexican border cities. It draws on phone and WhatsApp interviews with Mexican government officials and members of civil society organizations on both sides of the border from May 18, 2026 through May 21, 2026. It also relies on local news articles to fill in any gaps. 

The situation on the ground in Mexico for migrants continues to be challenging. For migrants seeking refugee status in Mexico, there is a two year wait time—placing many individuals and families in limbo.18 Meanwhile, all migrants face unstable living conditions and security risks throughout the country. Individuals living in Mexican cities without legal status are often unable to formally work, access medical care, or obtain adequate housing.19 Further, even when migrants obtain employment, the salaries are often so low that they cannot obtain a basic standard of living. Civil society organizations have also detailed widespread violence against migrants, both in southern Mexico and in cities along the U.S.-Mexico border.20 Certain groups of migrants continue to experience additional challenges, with Black, LGBTQ+, Indigenous, and non-Spanish speaking asylum seekers often facing targeted discrimination.