Juarez migrant camps are getting smaller, migrants leaving for various reasons

Juarez, Mexico (KVIA) - Migrant camps in Juarez near the El Paso ports of entry are getting smaller as some people are giving up hope of gaining asylum.
Fortunately, there are good Samaritans who are trying to help children, most coming from other parts of Mexico, endure cold temperatures.

ABC-7 reported last month the number of migrants were in the hundreds of families. Now there are just dozens camped out at the Chamizal Park on the Juarez side.

Monday morning, a family from Albuquerque stopped by to drop off blankets to help families survive plummeting temperatures.

Elizabeth Resendiz and her father drove from Albuquerque to visit family in Juarez for the Christmas holidays. They told ABC-7 they brought more than presents for family. They brought supplies for the migrants.

“Blankets and, like hygiene stuff. That was mostly it,” said the 17-year-old.

Resendiz and her father were surprised at just how smaller the Mexican migrant camp inside Chamizal Park has gotten since last month.
Migrant families, who would not go on camera, said they're fleeing their homes in different parts of Mexico from what they claim is extreme cartel violence.

A state government official told ABC-7 families started leaving once temperatures plummeted and children were getting sick.

That same government official, who was not authorized to speak officially on the issue, said families also started losing hope when fellow migrants' asylum claims were rejected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.

Lourdes Perez, who did not want her real name used or her face shown for fear of retribution from cartels, had her asylum claim rejected Monday.

"It's sad. Because one goes up there with hope. But I feel that perhaps I will touch someone's heart and they'll let me pass." said Lourdes Perez.

Perez said she doesn’t know how much longer she’ll hold out hope, stay with her two children and request asylum once again.
Meantime, people are dropping off food, and the good Samaritans are helping keep children stay warm.

"You’re doing something nice, so like someone else is getting help. Yeah, like, I wish we could do more about it.” said Resendiz.

That same government official who says migrants are leaving for various reasons also tells ABC 7 more migrants continue to arrive to various camps at the other ports of entry.