Title 42 shifted attitudes about migration – south of US border

Mexico was never a “migration nation” like the U.S. But American policy written during the pandemic has caused a bottleneck at the border – and forced Mexicans to rethink their obligations to migrants.

Eleven-year-old Melissa sits in a yellow schoolhouse on the outskirts of Tijuana, joining the chorus of voices answering a teacher who instructs the class on long division.

While dividing 5,789 by 3 might be tedious for some, Melissa says she’s thrilled to crunch numbers. It’s been almost six months since she and her family fled home –...