Deported Mexicans Find New Home in Mexico City’s ‘Little LA’ Community
Mexican nationals sent back under the Trump administration are settling in Mexico City’s Tabacalera district, nicknamed Little LA, where NGOs assist them with reintegration.
After Donald Trump resumed the presidency in January 2025, his administration has deported roughly 145,500 Mexican citizens, leading a growing number of returnees to the Tabacalera neighborhood of Mexico City, popularly called Little LA because of its palm-lined streets and bilingual atmosphere. The area has become a hub for NGOs such as New Comienzos, founded by former deportee Israel Concha, which offers legal assistance, free English certification and mentorship to help newcomers navigate paperwork, find employment and cope emotionally.
Individuals like Christopher Gil Ortíz, detained by ICE while commuting to work in Los Angeles, and longtime U.S. resident Sergio Aaron Pérez, deported in 2011, now rely on the community’s call-center jobs and social networks. Ortíz plans to secure a position in a glass-making factory and eventually bring his wife and children to Mexico, while Pérez finds steady income speaking English. The influx reflects the broader humanitarian strain caused by the current U.S. immigration crackdown and highlights Mexico’s limited state support for returnees.
Why it matters
The story shows how U.S. deportation policies are reshaping Mexican communities and spurring grassroots support for returnees.
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