Mexican military and National Guard troops search the embankment of the Rio Grande for smugglers in the Valley of Juárez on Feb. 5, 2025. The soldiers were deployed as part of the binational agreement between Mexico and the U.S. to avoid tariffs on Mexican exports to the U.S.

Mexican troops arrived in Ciudad Juárez and Tijuana this week and will soon patrol 18 cities near the Mexico-U.S. border.

"It's going to get more complicated the way we see it, especially human rights for those who are simply looking for an opportunity to benefit their lives," said García Lara. "There have been many instances where soldiers are simply looking for migrants to prey on.