In Nogales, Arizona, Maria Jesus Lopez sits at her computer, engrossed in her daily tasks at Danny’s Reefer, a company specializing in repairing commercial trucks. As an immigrant from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, she often crosses the border to visit her hometown a few times each week.
Lopez remarks on the noticeable increase in migrant activity at the border entrance as she reflects on this year compared to the previous one. While she does not witness as many undocumented migrants in Nogales, Arizona as she does in Nogales, Sonora, there has still been a significant surge, almost double the number from last year.
In addition to the higher numbers, Lopez observes a change in the nationalities of migrants. She now sees people coming from countries other than Mexico, hinting at the evolving dynamics of migration in the area.
Just a few miles away, near the DeConcini Port of Entry, Lopez notices buses regularly stopping to pick up migrants. This occurrence was infrequent in the past but has become a common sight throughout the day and even late into the night. These buses transport migrants to other parts of Arizona, which means they are not present in the area for long.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reported a drastic increase in migrant encounters in the Tucson area. They consider it to be the highest surge in the entire country. Comparing last October to the previous month, the number of migrant encounters in Tucson skyrocketed from over 22,000 to over 55,000—a staggering increase of over 140%.
While Tucson experienced the most significant surge, other regions also saw varying degrees of growth. San Diego, California, witnessed an almost 70% increase, while the Rio Grande Valley in Texas saw a 13% rise. Conversely, places like El Paso and Laredo, Texas, observed a decrease in migrant encounters.
For Lopez and her coworker Guillermo Barraza, who works as a refrigerator mechanic, the influx of migrants has had positive implications for their business. The migrant presence contributes to their truck-refrigerator operations as they assist in the shipment of goods. The migrants’ support is invaluable in performing shipments efficiently.
However, not all businesses in the area share the same sentiment. DJ, a shuttle driver in Nogales, voices concerns about the increased presence of authorities. He mentions how sheriffs regularly pull over shuttles under the pretext of searching for migrants or investigating other matters, which can be disruptive for his line of work.
Despite the surge in migrant encounters, Lopez maintains that Nogales, Arizona, remains a safe place. She believes the town is relatively calm and unaffected by the increased activity at the border.
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[Author’s Name] is a reporter that contributes to KGUN 9. With prior experience reporting for KRIS6 News and Action 10 News in Corpus Christi, Texas, as well as guest reporting in Spanish for Telemundo Corpus Christi, [Author’s Name] brings a wealth of expertise to the field. To share your story ideas, reach out to [Author’s Name] via email at [email address] or connect on social media through Facebook and Twitter.
