Across different regions, the emotional toll manifests in similar ways. Anxiety becomes a constant companion, fueled by unanswered questions and contradictory rumors. Anger simmers beneath the surface, particularly among those who feel they did everything asked of them only to be halted at the finish line. There is also a pervasive sense of grief, as people mourn not just delayed plans but the loss of a future they had already begun to imagine. Communities that relied on migration as a pathway to safety, opportunity, or reunification now find themselves recalculating everything from finances to mental health support. In many households, conversations revolve around impossible choices: whether to wait indefinitely, to separate families once again, or to abandon years of effort entirely. Children sense the stress even when adults try to shield them, absorbing the instability and uncertainty that now defines daily life. The psychological impact of prolonged limbo can be as damaging as the practical consequences, eroding resilience and fostering a feeling of powerlessness that is difficult to shake.
