Trump's Aid Freeze Disrupts Migrant Support in Latin America

A busy shelter in southern Mexico has been forced to close its medical services. A program supporting LGBTQ+ youth fleeing Venezuela has been halted. In several Latin American countries, migrant support offices have been shuttered. The consequences of Donald Trump’s foreign aid freeze are already being felt across the region, particularly in programs aimed at supporting migrants.

Trump's decision, made just days into his administration, to freeze U.S. foreign assistance is severely impacting grassroots organizations that help migrants. As the U.S. works to deter illegal migration, many critical programs funded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration have been put on hold. These programs address the root causes of migration, such as violence, poverty, and human rights abuses, which have spurred record levels of migration in recent years.

One significant casualty is the Peace Oasis of the Holy Spirit Amparito shelter in Villahermosa, Mexico, where the freeze led to the dismissal of the shelter’s only doctor and a social worker. The shelter, which helps migrants stranded in Mexico, is now appealing to the Mexican government for alternative funding.

In Colombia, a similar situation has unfolded. The Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley had prepared a program to support mental health for LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those fleeing Venezuela. But with the U.S. foreign aid freeze, the project was abruptly canceled, leaving local partners scrambling for funds.

This aid freeze is part of Trump’s broader policy to halt many U.S. programs aimed at improving conditions in Latin America, particularly those addressing migration. While some programs, such as efforts to integrate returned migrants or combat illegal narcotics, may receive continued funding, efforts to address the root causes of migration are expected to see drastic cuts.

Experts warn that this freeze will have long-term repercussions on U.S. relationships in the region. Liliana Ayalde, a former U.S. ambassador, notes that trust built through years of aid cannot be easily restored, especially in conflict zones. Meanwhile, China’s growing influence in Latin America—due in part to billions in no-strings-attached infrastructure investment—is positioning Beijing to benefit from U.S. disengagement.

As the humanitarian situation worsens, aid workers fear the freeze will only exacerbate the suffering of migrants already facing perilous journeys.