Men, women, and children from places as far-flung as China and Sudan flock to the US-Mexico border in hopes of a better life in the United States. When the executive order limiting the number of people able to apply for asylum was announced in June 2024, some were already well on their way to the border, having braved the meat-grinder of La Bestia, the infamous train that carries migrants north through Mexico, or crossed the perilous Darien Gap, a dense, dangerous stretch of jungle that separates Panama from Colombia. For many, the order was an unexpected blow, and some had never even heard of it. Others, more desperate or perhaps more hopeful, tried to beat it, hoping to arrive before the new restrictions would close off their chance for asylum. This photo essay captures the stories of these individuals as they navigate the treacherous landscape of migration—facing not only the physical dangers of their journey, but the looming uncertainty of an America that may no longer offer them the refuge they had long dreamed of. It is a portrait of resilience, of families torn between hope and fear, and of the human cost of a policy that seeks to redefine the boundaries of who can seek sanctuary.
