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This five-part investigation was conducted by Conexión Migrante and Factchequeado with support from the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Disarming Disinformation program.
Puedes leer esta nota en español haciendo clic aquí.
A recent survey by Conexión Migrante and Factchequeado, conducted via social media platforms, reveals an alarming surge in disinformation targeting migrants.
Exposure to scams has risen dramatically: In 2023, 30% of respondents reported receiving false or fraudulent messages about services, immigration processes or policy changes. By 2025, following Donald Trump's new immigration policies, that figure jumped to 49.4%.
This spike in false and misleading content has real-world consequences. The share of migrants who reported falling victim to fraud or disinformation climbed from 18.8% in 2023 to 27.2% in 2025, according to our survey data collected in March and April 2025.
While Meta platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp remain dominant channels for spreading disinformation, the study warns of a shifting information landscape. In just two years, content on TikTok and face-to-face disinformation have surged, emerging as widespread forms of deception within migrant communities.
The testimonies collected for this investigation illustrate the situation. Some describe recurring scams linked to the CBP One mobile app, implemented by Joe Biden's administration for asylum seekers and deactivated by Trump on January 20, 2025, his first day in office.
"I paid three times for the CBP ONE appointment and was scammed all three times," one respondent said.
Others expose dangers along the route: "At the Mexico-Guatemala border they told me they were guides and turned out to be kidnappers," another person said.
One survey respondent describes the complexity of deception networks: "There are people who tell you they know how to handle the paperwork, but they charge you for it. They say go to this place, but it's all a game of telephone.
They charge up to $4,000 to get your papers here, saying it's through COMAR, but it turns out to be marriage. They marry you to someone you don't know. And they always look for everything to be a complete business.
There's a lot of fraud in all this. A lot of people wanting to profit from the situation. And sadly, the need is also great, which makes some people fall for it and accept."
"They give you false hope because you think you can fix your papers, and it turns out you can't," reads another comment.
"I was scammed by a coyote who took advantage of my desperation and now I'm broke and still in Mexico, without papers."
When asked what type of services or false information they received, more than 80% said they were deceived about processes to obtain immigration documents or work. Another 28% received false information about changes in immigration policies, and 20% were deceived about transportation or mobility issues.
How We Conducted the Survey
The 2025 survey was conducted using the same questionnaire used in 2023, the same distribution channels, and the same audiences as Conexión Migrante, plus Factchequeado's channels.
Data collection took place from February 24 to March 4, 2025. A digital questionnaire created using Google Forms was used to collect information, distributed through the official Facebook profiles of Conexión Migrante and Factchequeado, and the WhatsApp channels of Conexión Migrante and Factchequeado.
The questionnaire was answered by migrants primarily from Venezuela, Honduras, Colombia, Nicaragua and Mexico. Women made up 54.3% of respondents and men 43.2%.
Half of respondents were between 36 and 55 years old; only 19.8% were young people between 18 and 25.
We thank everyone who answered these questions, which allowed us to see and measure the negative effects of misinformation on people on the move.
*This is the second article in a five-part series, I'm Staying in Mexico.
Factchequeado is a verification media outlet built by a Spanish-speaking community to tackle disinformation in the United States. Do you want to be part of it? Join us and verify the content you receive by sending it to our WhatsApp +16468736087 or to factchequeado.com/whatsapp.
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