Seeing how a batch of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump on the first day of his presidency effectively closed down the Mexican border for migrants headed to the United States, Ronald Alvarez had the sinking feeling that he and his family had just lost the race for salvation.

Several migrants said they had recently arrived in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico after weeks of travel, only to find their CBP One appointments were cancelled.

In Mexico City, some migrants have built tent cities and slept on the streets. In a country long sympathetic to migrants, neighbors are protesting.