The Desperate Trek: Tijuana

The sounds of French and Haitian Creole now mix with Spanish and English in Tijuana’s shelters, which only a year ago were filled mainly with migrants from central America and Mexicans recently deported from the U.S.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Haitian migrants crowd Tijuana’s shelters, budget hotels and rooms-for-rent, where they spend days waiting for appointments with American immigration officials.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

“We’re at breaking point right now,” says Father Patrick Murphy of the influx of Haitianmigrants to the Casa del Migrante shelter in Tijuana. “We never imagined it would go on for more than two or three weeks.”  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Nertho Thermitus, from Haiti,waits with fellow migrantsbefore crossing the bridge leading from Tijuana to the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Emmanuel Ngunyi spent days waiting at a Salvation Army shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, for an appointment with U.S. border officials. “They do take care of you well,” he said. “But this is not my destination.”  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Margarita Andonaegui, administrator of Tijuana’sDesayunador Salesiano Padre Chava shelter, tries to help a pair of migrants. The shelter has been struggling to feed and house thousands of Haitian and African migrants.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Nertho Thermitus, a migrant from Haiti, walks through Tijuana’s Red Light District in the early morning on his way to the U.S. border.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Migrants sleep in the street acrossfrom the Desayunador Salesiano Padre Chava shelter in Tijuana, Mexico.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Migrants head to their rooms at the Casa del Migrante shelter in Tijuana, Mexico.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A Haitian migrant shaves at the Casa del Migrante shelter in Tijuana, Mexico.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A Haitian woman checks her phone before going to sleep at the Desayunador Salesiano Padre Chava shelter. Women and children spread blankets on the floor in between the dining room tables to sleep atthe facility, which is filled to capacity.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Nertho Thermitus, a migrant from Haiti, says a silent prayer before leaving his hotel room in Tijuana for the U.S. border.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Haitian and African migrants sleep on bunks at a shelter operated by Movimiento Juventud 2000 in Tijuana, Mexico.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Haitian and African migrants check their phones while staying at a small tent city operated by Movimiento Juventus 2000.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Emmanuel Philips, a migrant from Haiti, dreams of going to the United States.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A Haitian migrant makes a call before going to sleep at the Casa del Migrante shelter in Tijuana, Mexica.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Emmanuel Philips, from Haiti, sits in the atrium at the Casa del Migrante shelter in Tijuana, Mexico.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Father Patrick Murphy celebratesMass at the Casa del Migrante shelter in Tijuana, Mexico.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Haitian and African migrants are staying at a small tent city operated by Movimiento Juventud 2000 in Tijuana, Mexico.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A Haitian child peers out of a tent where some families spend the day at the Desayunador Salesiano Padre Chava shelter in Tijuana, Mexico.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Migrants wave to their friends as they cross the bridge leading from Tijuana to the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Haitian migrants hand their paperwork to a Mexican official at a makeshift office set up near the U.S. border.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Migrantswait in line in Tijuana to enter the United States.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A Haitian man peers through afence at the Desayunador Salesiano Padre Chava shelter in Tijuana, Mexico.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)