The encampment here at La Soledad is unassisted by the Mexican government. There is no running water or sanitation and migrant’s homes are made from any tarp they can find supported by rope and cord. In walking through the encampment, it is difficult to distinguish when one family’s tent begins and the other ends. Some of the small tarps held families of 4 or more. The little support the migrants receive at La Soledad is through Doctors Without Borders operating in Mexico. According to the organization, many migrants here have suffered violence on their journey ranging from sexual violence, kidnappings, robbery, threats, deprivation of water and food and burns and extortion. A main concern of the humanitarian organization is the wellbeing of the migrants, both physically and mentally. Inside the church, aid workers set up daily clinics that address the needs of the migrants. On some days, the clinics will be set up for medical checkups and medication disbursement while others will focus on therapy services. These services are specifically set up for women who have experienced sexual violence along the migrant routes. The organization states that between January and August of 2024, there were 744 diagnosis and treatment consultations at these clinics for cases of sexual violence in Mexico. Out of all the patients, 90 percent were women.

            The neighborhood of Venustiano Carranza is well known for being one of the more dangerous areas in Mexico City. It is situated within the chaotic Centro area in the middle of the city and borders Tepito. These two neighborhoods harbor most of Mexico City’s violent crimes. At first glance it wouldn’t seem like the ideal location for migrants escaping violence to gravitate towards, but there is a specific strategy for the location. Migrants await decisions through the CBP One app, which the US Customs and Border Protection set up to filter through the influx of migrants. The app sets up appointment dates where US officials can run background checks and assess asylum claims. While being a welcoming refuge of humanitarian aid, the church of La Soledad is also located near immigration offices that help migrants with their claims and setting up appointments. Doctors Without Borders has also noted that the app can be difficult to navigate and is prone to errors, such as shutting down, cancelling appointments, and giving false information.

            With the recent shutdown of the CBP One app as part of a larger blanket of anti-immigration reforms issued by the new US presidential administration as of January 2025, the future of encampments such as La Soledad remains uncertain. Mexico City’s police force has already shut down an encampment similar in size to La Soledad at Plaza Giordana Bruno in the Juarez neighborhood. If La Soledad meets the same conclusion, it is unclear where the migrants calling it home will find shelter next.