José Luis Pérez Canchola, the veteran human rights advocate forced out as Tijuana’s Director of Migrant Services in January 2025, is back in city government. Acting Mayor Abdiel Gutiérrez Coronado announced Monday that Pérez Canchola will serve as the city’s new Director of Human Rights.
Gutiérrez Coronado made the announcement on social media, saying Pérez Canchola’s experience and commitment would help build a more inclusive Tijuana. The appointment brings the longtime advocate back to the municipal payroll just 18 months after he was pushed out over his public statements on the migrant crisis at the border.
Why Pérez Canchola Was Forced Out
In January 2025, city officials asked Pérez Canchola to resign from his role leading Tijuana’s migrant affairs office. The removal came just hours after President Trump took office and shut down the CBP One app, the mobile tool migrants had used to schedule asylum appointments at U.S. ports of entry. The shutdown left large numbers of migrants stranded near the El Chaparral border crossing in Tijuana.
Pérez Canchola had spoken publicly about the need for the city to ramp up services in response. Officials accused him of “exaggerating and lying” about the situation and said his statements did not align with the government’s institutional narrative. According to Voice of San Diego, the city told him his messaging conflicted with “this government’s objectives, especially as regards an issue as sensitive as migration.”
A Long Record in Human Rights
Pérez Canchola previously led the Baja California Human Rights Prosecutor’s Office, now known as the CEDH BC (Comisión Estatal de los Derechos Humanos de Baja California). After his January 2025 removal, he took a substitute seat on the Tijuana City Council and continued to speak publicly on migration issues.
His new role as Director of Human Rights covers a broader portfolio than his previous position. The directorate oversees protections for vulnerable populations across the city, not only migrants but also groups facing discrimination, domestic violence, and other rights concerns.
Political Backdrop to the Appointment
Gutiérrez Coronado is serving as acting mayor while Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz is on leave to pursue the Morena party’s gubernatorial nomination for Baja California. The appointment of Pérez Canchola could mark a shift in the city’s approach to human rights and migration policy under interim leadership.
Tijuana remains a key flashpoint for U.S.-Mexico immigration policy. Migrant shelters in the city have faced capacity strains and funding cuts since early 2025, and thousands of displaced people continue to live near border crossing areas familiar to cross-border commuters and expats.
The appointment was first reported by Punto Norte.