Residents of a working-class neighborhood in the outskirts of Tijuana are wary of their new neighbors – a group of 2,300 Central American migrants sleeping in a makeshift shelter.

The city of Tijuana began transferring members of the migrant caravan from their original shelter, the Benito Juárez sports complex, to a vacant event space known as El Barretal in the Mariano Matamoros neighborhood Thursday.

As of Sunday evening, 2,372 migrants including 1,371 men were registered.

The move caught locals by surprise.


“Nobody told us about the shelter,” said Juliana Baeza, 32. “I heard about it from the news.”

1 / 9 Jose Saldana a local shop owner in Mariano Matamoros who sells clothing and home items from his home, recently had an encounter with one of the migrants from the caravan. Saldana confronted a man in his twenties we he noticed him concealing tools wit the intention to steal the items and another small group of men asked where they could buy drugs. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 9 The new migrant shelter that recently opened in Mariano Matamoros is now home to approximately 2300 migrant who have been relocated from the previous shelter at Benito Juarez Sports Complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 9 Jose Saldana a local shop owner in Mariano Matamoros who sells clothing and home items from his home, recently had an encounter with one of the migrants from the caravan. Saldana confronted a man in his twenties we he noticed him concealing tools wit the intention to steal the items and another small group of men asked where they could buy drugs. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 9 Because of the recent new neighbors to the Mariano Matamoros, one store kepts the security doors closed and prefers to sell items through security the door. A recent rash of thefts in the store have prompted some store owners to be cautious with their customers. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 9 A small group of migrants sat near a local store just outside the gate to the new shelter that was set up in Mariano Matamoros for the 2300 that have been relocated from the old shelter. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 9 Because of the recent new neighbors to the Mariano Matamoros, one store kepts the security doors closed and prefers to sell items through security the door. A recent rash of thefts in the store have prompted some store owners to be cautious with their customers. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 9 Because of the recent new neighbors to the Mariano Matamoros, one store kepts the security doors closed and prefers to sell items through security the door. A recent rash of thefts in the store have prompted some store owners to be cautious with their customers. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 9 The new migrant shelter that recently opened in Mariano Matamoros is now home to approximately 2300 migrants who have been relocated from the previous shelter at Benito Juarez Sports Complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 9 Local resident of Mariano Matamoros, Juan Sanchez Ramos talked about some of the recent activities the migrants have done that havenâ€™t pleased him. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Baeza said she supports the plight of migrants. Her husband collected donations for the migrant caravan when they lived in the original shelter. But her support began to waver when she saw two migrants drinking beers outside her local grocery store.

“If they supposedly don’t have enough to eat why are they buying beer and drinking in the street,” she asked.


Mariano Matamoros has a tough reputation. Neighbors said it’s the kind of neighborhood that won’t put up with newcomers acting out.

“We already have our own crime problems so I don’t think it’s fair to bring them here,” said Maria Jesus Ramirez, 59.

Ramirez said she’s been against the migrant caravan as soon as they entered Mexico because she saw images of several migrants forcing their way into the country at Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Juan Sanchez Ramos, 21, lives down the block. He said most of the caravan members are friendly. He lets them use the bathroom and even shower. But he has also seen several men urinate in front of his house.


“It’s been horrible,” said her neighbor Jose Saldana. “Nobody is happy about having them here.”

Saldana runs a clothing store from his home and caught a migrant in his 20s trying to shoplift a $2 screwdriver last Friday.

“He told me that he was a good person, that he goes to church,” Saldana said. “I asked him if he learned to steal at church.”

Over the weekend, another group of migrants stole bottles of Tecate from a corner store, El Arroyito market, said Maria Juarez, 35.


Juarez didn’t realize people were stealing from the store until neighbors ran in and told her. She isn’t exactly sure how many bottles were stolen.

“Now, when groups of them come in we keep an eye on them,” she said.

Despite the shoplifting, Juarez said the actions of a few haven’t turned her against the entire caravan. She still lets migrants use the store’s bathroom and charge their phone with the store’s outlets.

“They are going through a hard time,” she said. “I’d want help if I were in their situation.”


Members of the caravan say they prefer the shelter at El Barretal because it protects them from the elements and has enough space for everyone. Benito Juárez was shut down after heavy rains turned half the area into a mud pit. City officials said crammed and unsanitary conditions there created a public health risk.

Carlos Guiterrez, 28, of Honduras said he’s heard rumors that Mariano Matamoros is not a safe neighborhood. But he is not worried.

“We have bad neighborhoods in Honduras,” he said.

On Monday, more migrants began applying for Mexican work permits so they can earn some money while they wait to cross into the United States.


Noe Avalos, 26, from El Salvador plans to apply this week. He and another friend drank cans of Tecate about 3 p.m. in the sidewalk outside the shelter while talking over what kind of jobs they could get.

The two said they haven’t gotten in trouble for drinking in public, but added that they don’t drink as much as other men.

“A lot of us are respectful, but not everyone has the same mentality and when people don’t behave that makes all of us look bad,” he said. “We are not here to cause problems.”