Green Card Holders Returning to US Amid Residency Abandonment Fears

Tijuana rental market sees 10-15% drop as legal residents move north to avoid losing legal status

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Trump administration recently warned green card holders living outside the U.S. or traveling out of the country for more than six months that extended departures could lead to an 'abandonment of residency' and loss of legal status. In response, many legal permanent residents who chose to live in Tijuana, Mexico to take advantage of lower housing costs are now moving back to the U.S., causing a 10-15% drop in Tijuana rents, especially in coastal neighborhoods.

Why it matters

This issue highlights the challenges faced by green card holders who live or travel outside the U.S. for extended periods, as the government has increased scrutiny and enforcement around residency requirements for legal permanent residents. The mass exodus of green card holders from Tijuana is disrupting the local rental market and raising concerns about the impact on binational communities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The details

Using biometrics and other technology, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun more closely tracking the exits and entries of non-citizens, documenting how often people are leaving the U.S. Many green card holders who chose to live in Tijuana to take advantage of lower housing costs are now feeling forced to return to the U.S. despite higher rents, out of fear of losing their legal status.

  • A few months ago, the Trump administration issued a warning to green card holders about the risks of extended travel outside the U.S.

The players

Dulce Belén Reynoso Reyes

President of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Agents in Tijuana.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The federal agency that has increased tracking and enforcement of non-citizens' travel in and out of the U.S.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have seen a reduction in occupancy as American citizens and legal residents are returning to the United States. This is lowering rent prices in Baja.”

— Dulce Belén Reynoso Reyes, President, Mexican Association of Real Estate Agents in Tijuana (cw39.com)

“If they are paying rents in pesos or dollars, it doesn't matter what the contract states, bottom line people are leaving.”

— Dulce Belén Reynoso Reyes, President, Mexican Association of Real Estate Agents in Tijuana (cw39.com)

What’s next

The U.S. government is expected to continue monitoring and enforcing residency requirements for green card holders, which could lead to more legal permanent residents choosing to live full-time in the U.S. rather than splitting time between the two countries.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the delicate balance that green card holders must maintain between living outside the U.S. and preserving their legal status. It also underscores the broader tensions around immigration policy and the challenges faced by binational communities along the border.