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Trump attacks 'phony stories of sadness and grief' in separation crisis – live Trump attacks 'phony stories of sadness and grief' in separation crisis – live
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Buzzfeed has put together a robust piece on one of the main attacks being leveraged against reporting on Donald Trump’s family separation policy: that journalists did not cover Barack Obama’s harsh family detention policies the last time there was an influx of child migrants at the border.
The Buzzfeed piece, which explains how that claim is not true, is here: Anyone Who Says The Media Ignored Obama’s Border Crisis Is Wrong, and a tiny sampling of the Guardian’s best reporting on that issue, here:
Orphaned by deportation: the crisis of American children left behind
US government deporting Central American migrants to their deaths
Child immigrant detainees: ‘There’s an overwhelming sadness among them’
These stories are newly relevant because the Trump administration is moving to violate a law that limits child, and therefore family, detention to 20 days. A federal judge put that rule in place in response to criticism of the Obama administration’s family detention practices.
Simon Tisdall, a foreign affairs commentator for the Guardian, writes about how family separation and tensions around immigration in Europe intertwine.
The longstanding inability of governments to cope with challenges posed by the increased flows of refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants is common to both sides of the Atlantic. The ensuing vacuum has been filled by opportunists such as Trump, maverick fringe parties, andrightwing zealots such as Italy’s new interior minister, Matteo Salvini, and the US attorney general, Jeff Sessions.
Chaos in Congress, where Republicans and Democrats have argued over conflicting plans to end incarceration of immigrant children on the Mexican border, enabled Trump to claim he was addressing Americans’ concerns. The US president has backed off for now, but his tough approach remains popular. Likewise, Salvini’s approval rating has soared after he banned a shipcarrying migrants from Libya.
In Germany, Angela Merkel’s domestic public standing has never wholly recovered from her decision to admit 1.1 million refugees in 2015. Although the total annual influx into Europe has plunged to under 40,000 people so far this year, polls suggest about two-thirds of German voters agree with Horst Seehofer, the interior minister and the chancellor’s rebellious ministerial rival, that tougher border controls are necessary.
Politico has a detailed story on White House senior policy advisor Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner who has almost entirely disappeared from public view amid the family separation controversy.
It’s hard to overstate Miller’s influence on the administration’s positions on immigration, according to interviews with a dozen current and former administration officials and Republicans close to the White House. Immediately after signing his executive order Wednesday suspending family separation at the border, Trump took his former campaign speechwriter-turned-immigration czar along for the ride on Air Force One to a rally in Minnesota.
But the backlash over the policy has opened cracks in Miller’s support network on Capitol Hill and among Republicans both inside and outside the White House, who have viewed the separation of migrant families as a huge political and policy misstep for the White House — and, for some, as a moral lapse.
“He led the president down a path that again ended in disaster,” said one Republican congressional staffer. “The Muslim ban and the immigration executive order are things that have activated both sides of the aisle and caused widespread pushback and disgust. I just think the president should think twice before following in his lead in the future on these issues.”
Miller was spotted on Sunday at a Mexican restaurant in Washington DC, where he was harassed and called a fascist. Trump supporters responded by posting bad reviews online of the restaurant Miller was eating at.
Nic Wirtz, a journalist based in Central America, writes for the Guardian about the motivations for immigrants fleeing Guatemala.Nic Wirtz, a journalist based in Central America, writes for the Guardian about the motivations for immigrants fleeing Guatemala.
US president Donald Trump’s plans to make the country more inhospitable for migrants has worked, to an extent. Although Guatemalans are more aware of the risks, they also want to escape poverty, violence or to reunite with their families.US president Donald Trump’s plans to make the country more inhospitable for migrants has worked, to an extent. Although Guatemalans are more aware of the risks, they also want to escape poverty, violence or to reunite with their families.
Juan Aguilar, mayor of San Juan Ostuncalco estimates that 15,000 of the municipality’s 78,000 inhabitants have migrated to the US. In the past six weeks, three residents from the area have died making the perilous journey north. Marvin Garcia Cabrera and Darwin Ovidio Vásquez Romero both drowned in the Rio Bravo, while Claudia Patricia Gómez González was shot dead in a case involving a border patrol agent which is under investigation.Juan Aguilar, mayor of San Juan Ostuncalco estimates that 15,000 of the municipality’s 78,000 inhabitants have migrated to the US. In the past six weeks, three residents from the area have died making the perilous journey north. Marvin Garcia Cabrera and Darwin Ovidio Vásquez Romero both drowned in the Rio Bravo, while Claudia Patricia Gómez González was shot dead in a case involving a border patrol agent which is under investigation.
In the past month stories have emerged that show Guatemala’s gangs have penetrated its military, as they expand around the country into rural areas such as San Marcos. As gangs get more organised, Guatemalans see fewer options to escape them.In the past month stories have emerged that show Guatemala’s gangs have penetrated its military, as they expand around the country into rural areas such as San Marcos. As gangs get more organised, Guatemalans see fewer options to escape them.
Returning migrants especially from western parts of the country such as San Juan Ostuncalco say they will be preparing their next attempt to cross immediately. “I was in the US for four years,” said Kevin López, a 17-year-old call centre worker. “I can make $100 a day there without overtime, better than here and I’m on a good salary. Every choice is difficult, we either leave our families or live poor.”Returning migrants especially from western parts of the country such as San Juan Ostuncalco say they will be preparing their next attempt to cross immediately. “I was in the US for four years,” said Kevin López, a 17-year-old call centre worker. “I can make $100 a day there without overtime, better than here and I’m on a good salary. Every choice is difficult, we either leave our families or live poor.”
Family separation has dominated late-night television shows in the US all week, with hosts taking aim last night at first lady Melania Trump’s decision to wear a jacket that said “I don’t care. Do U?” on a trip to Texas to meet migrant children at a shelter.Family separation has dominated late-night television shows in the US all week, with hosts taking aim last night at first lady Melania Trump’s decision to wear a jacket that said “I don’t care. Do U?” on a trip to Texas to meet migrant children at a shelter.
On The Daily Show, Trevor Noah also made reference to Melania’s much-criticized choice of jacket. “It looks like when Melania was in the hospital, she had her last fuck removed,” he said.On The Daily Show, Trevor Noah also made reference to Melania’s much-criticized choice of jacket. “It looks like when Melania was in the hospital, she had her last fuck removed,” he said.
He continued: “Although it is kind of sweet that she made a jacket out of her and Donald’s wedding vows.”He continued: “Although it is kind of sweet that she made a jacket out of her and Donald’s wedding vows.”
The Guardian’s Oliver Laughland is outside the federal courthouse in McAllen, Texas, where, since May, around 150 migrants a day have been prosecuted for the misdemeanor offense of illegal entry.The Guardian’s Oliver Laughland is outside the federal courthouse in McAllen, Texas, where, since May, around 150 migrants a day have been prosecuted for the misdemeanor offense of illegal entry.
These prosecutions have been the cause of family separation as parents are ripped away from their children to go to court for the minor offense.These prosecutions have been the cause of family separation as parents are ripped away from their children to go to court for the minor offense.
Lawyers for the Texas Civil Rights Project, an advocacy group that has been monitoring daily events at the court, just came out to address reporters. They confirmed that today is the first day US prosecutors have not brought a single parent to court. Yesterday, despite Trump’s order stopping family separation, 17 parents were brought here, although the government dropped charges against them at the last minute.Lawyers for the Texas Civil Rights Project, an advocacy group that has been monitoring daily events at the court, just came out to address reporters. They confirmed that today is the first day US prosecutors have not brought a single parent to court. Yesterday, despite Trump’s order stopping family separation, 17 parents were brought here, although the government dropped charges against them at the last minute.
Although there were no parents here, lawyer Efrén Olivares said that three individuals, all from Central America, were brought to court today having been separated from their families. One, a 20 year-old was separted from his younger, teenage brother. Another, 18, was also separated from his brother. Another adult migrant had been separated from their teenage cousin.Although there were no parents here, lawyer Efrén Olivares said that three individuals, all from Central America, were brought to court today having been separated from their families. One, a 20 year-old was separted from his younger, teenage brother. Another, 18, was also separated from his brother. Another adult migrant had been separated from their teenage cousin.
Olivares urged US attorney general Jeff Sessions to rescind the zero tolerance policy in its entirety.Olivares urged US attorney general Jeff Sessions to rescind the zero tolerance policy in its entirety.
“All the the Attorney General needs to say is that the April memo is now rescinded,” he said with reference to document Sessions signed off to being the policy. “That would help ease this crisis.”“All the the Attorney General needs to say is that the April memo is now rescinded,” he said with reference to document Sessions signed off to being the policy. “That would help ease this crisis.”
Rob Rogers, the Pittsburgh cartoonist who said he was fired after 25 years for making fun for Trump, has released his first image since going freelance.Rob Rogers, the Pittsburgh cartoonist who said he was fired after 25 years for making fun for Trump, has released his first image since going freelance.
Here is my first cartoon as a freelance syndicated cartoonist without a staff job. This story about the immigrant children makes me ashamed to be an American. https://t.co/EQJEUosTvi #TrumpConcentrationCamps #Trump #TrumpCamps #ImmigrantChildren #Immigration pic.twitter.com/fEE5vVuOiKHere is my first cartoon as a freelance syndicated cartoonist without a staff job. This story about the immigrant children makes me ashamed to be an American. https://t.co/EQJEUosTvi #TrumpConcentrationCamps #Trump #TrumpCamps #ImmigrantChildren #Immigration pic.twitter.com/fEE5vVuOiK
Guardian political correspondent, Lauren Gambino, has more news from Washington DC on the Republican effort to overhaul the US immigration system.Guardian political correspondent, Lauren Gambino, has more news from Washington DC on the Republican effort to overhaul the US immigration system.
Republican leaders are trying to unite their fractious party despite Trump’s half-hearted support for the effort.Republican leaders are trying to unite their fractious party despite Trump’s half-hearted support for the effort.
“Game over,” the Republican congressman Mark Sanford, a Trump critic, told CNN, saying Trump’s tweet “takes the wind out of the sails in what might have been a fairly productive week of looking for a compromise”.“Game over,” the Republican congressman Mark Sanford, a Trump critic, told CNN, saying Trump’s tweet “takes the wind out of the sails in what might have been a fairly productive week of looking for a compromise”.
The “compromise” bill sought to address two urgent crises triggered by Trump’s hardline immigration agenda: his cancellation of a program that shielded from deportation hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, known as Dreamers, and the zero-tolerance policy which led to the family separations.The “compromise” bill sought to address two urgent crises triggered by Trump’s hardline immigration agenda: his cancellation of a program that shielded from deportation hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, known as Dreamers, and the zero-tolerance policy which led to the family separations.
The bill would include $25bn for Trump’s border wall, a campaign promise. It would also limit legal immigration, provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and end family separations.The bill would include $25bn for Trump’s border wall, a campaign promise. It would also limit legal immigration, provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and end family separations.
After a two-hour closed-door meeting on Thursday evening, negotiators told reporters they were exploring modifications to the bill to appease conservatives. One element would require employers to use E-verify, a federal database that determines the legal status of workers. The other provision deals with visas for agricultural workers.After a two-hour closed-door meeting on Thursday evening, negotiators told reporters they were exploring modifications to the bill to appease conservatives. One element would require employers to use E-verify, a federal database that determines the legal status of workers. The other provision deals with visas for agricultural workers.
On Thursday, the House defeated a more hardline immigration plan that would have dramatically restricted legal immigration without guaranteeing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. The vote was closer than many Republicans expected, leaving some conservatives to wonder if the focus had been on the wrong measure.On Thursday, the House defeated a more hardline immigration plan that would have dramatically restricted legal immigration without guaranteeing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. The vote was closer than many Republicans expected, leaving some conservatives to wonder if the focus had been on the wrong measure.
“There’s been a full court press the past 48 hours on the compromise bill,” Mark Meadows, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, told Fox. “Perhaps if we had done that on the first bill we would have gotten to that sweet spot of 218 votes. But you know, history is over with that bill.”“There’s been a full court press the past 48 hours on the compromise bill,” Mark Meadows, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, told Fox. “Perhaps if we had done that on the first bill we would have gotten to that sweet spot of 218 votes. But you know, history is over with that bill.”
Now that Donald Trump’s family separation policy has overwhelmed US authorities with unaccompanied migrant children, the New York Times reports that the US is preparing to shelter as many as 20,000 migrant children on four American military basesNow that Donald Trump’s family separation policy has overwhelmed US authorities with unaccompanied migrant children, the New York Times reports that the US is preparing to shelter as many as 20,000 migrant children on four American military bases
The 20,000 beds at bases in Texas and Arkansas would house “unaccompanied alien children,” said a Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Michael Andrews, although other federal agencies provided conflicting explanations about how the shelters would be used and who would be housed there. There were reports of widespread confusion on the border.The 20,000 beds at bases in Texas and Arkansas would house “unaccompanied alien children,” said a Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Michael Andrews, although other federal agencies provided conflicting explanations about how the shelters would be used and who would be housed there. There were reports of widespread confusion on the border.
It was unclear whether the military housing would also house the parents of children in migrant families that have been detained, and officials at the White House, the Defense Department and the Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday that they could not provide details.It was unclear whether the military housing would also house the parents of children in migrant families that have been detained, and officials at the White House, the Defense Department and the Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday that they could not provide details.
If the Trump administration thought public condemnation of family separation would end when it announced on Wednesday that it would stop the practice, they were wrong.If the Trump administration thought public condemnation of family separation would end when it announced on Wednesday that it would stop the practice, they were wrong.
Protestors this morning gathered outside the home of homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who oversaw the implementation of family separation. She also defended the practice on Monday in a heated White House press briefing.Protestors this morning gathered outside the home of homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who oversaw the implementation of family separation. She also defended the practice on Monday in a heated White House press briefing.
Protestors are outside of DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s Alexandria townhouse, playing audio of the detained children. She appears to be still be home. pic.twitter.com/akIcxOcM3qProtestors are outside of DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s Alexandria townhouse, playing audio of the detained children. She appears to be still be home. pic.twitter.com/akIcxOcM3q
The demonstrators also distributed leaflets that said “beware of child snatcher” throughout her neighborhood.The demonstrators also distributed leaflets that said “beware of child snatcher” throughout her neighborhood.
Nielsen was also taunted at a Mexican restaurant this week before the policy was ended.Nielsen was also taunted at a Mexican restaurant this week before the policy was ended.
And shortly after first lady Melania Trump wore a coat on Thursday reading: “I really don’t care” to a shelter for immigrant children, activists created the website “ireallydocare.com” for people to donate to 14 groups that assist immigrants.And shortly after first lady Melania Trump wore a coat on Thursday reading: “I really don’t care” to a shelter for immigrant children, activists created the website “ireallydocare.com” for people to donate to 14 groups that assist immigrants.
Since Melania Trump's jacket said "I really don't care"...I set up https://t.co/GL1FF0KpBsClick the link and it'll take you to a site where you can donate to 14 awesome groups helping immigrants all at once. Feel free to RT if that's your jam. pic.twitter.com/TPc4y4ZUfhSince Melania Trump's jacket said "I really don't care"...I set up https://t.co/GL1FF0KpBsClick the link and it'll take you to a site where you can donate to 14 awesome groups helping immigrants all at once. Feel free to RT if that's your jam. pic.twitter.com/TPc4y4ZUfh
And a nationwide protest on June 30 against family separation that was planned before the Trump administration ended the policy is still on track to take place.And a nationwide protest on June 30 against family separation that was planned before the Trump administration ended the policy is still on track to take place.
Two major US magazines have revealed their covers for issues about family separation.Two major US magazines have revealed their covers for issues about family separation.
@NewYorker cover. Must see. Must feel. pic.twitter.com/SbAjOLax26@NewYorker cover. Must see. Must feel. pic.twitter.com/SbAjOLax26
Congratulations, @realDonaldTrump, you made the cover of TIME! You can replace all the fake TIME covers in your properties with this one! pic.twitter.com/bpyZSybBMmCongratulations, @realDonaldTrump, you made the cover of TIME! You can replace all the fake TIME covers in your properties with this one! pic.twitter.com/bpyZSybBMm
The Guardian’s Peter Beaumont spoke with photographer John Moore, who captured the image of the crying young girl featured on Time’s cover:The Guardian’s Peter Beaumont spoke with photographer John Moore, who captured the image of the crying young girl featured on Time’s cover:
“I am sure that most of these families had no idea of the new US policy to separate children from their parents during the immigration court proceedings,” Moore said.“I am sure that most of these families had no idea of the new US policy to separate children from their parents during the immigration court proceedings,” Moore said.
“I knew, however, what would happen to many of them next – separation – after they were taken away, so it was difficult for me to witness.”“I knew, however, what would happen to many of them next – separation – after they were taken away, so it was difficult for me to witness.”
Of Moore’s images taken that day, it was the photo of the little girl who went viral, though she had not been separated from her parents, according to Reuters, and was instead in family detention with her mother in Texas.Of Moore’s images taken that day, it was the photo of the little girl who went viral, though she had not been separated from her parents, according to Reuters, and was instead in family detention with her mother in Texas.
Immigrants rights groups have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support they’ve received in recent weeks. People donated more than $7.5m to one small nonprofit, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (Raices), after a couple created a fundraiser on Facebook for the Texas-based group.
But a few people have taken the opposite position, such as this Oregon National Guardsman who said of immigrant families “they’re lucky we’re not executing them.”
He has since been disciplined, according to the website Task and Purpose.
And this morning on Fox and Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade defended harsh immigration policies by drawing a distinction between children born in the US and children born in other countries. Kilmeade said:
And these are not – like it or not, these aren’t our kids. Show them compassion, but it’s not like he is doing this to the people of Idaho or Texas. These are people from another country and now people are saying that they’re more important than people in our country who are paying taxes and who have needs as well.
Kilmeade went on to send five tweets featuring videos and photographs of his dogs on the set of Fox and Friends for #TakeYourDogToWorkDay. One of the posts became a repository for criticism about his comments about immigrant children.
Guardian political correspondent, Lauren Gambino, reports from Washington DC on the Republican effort to overhaul the US immigration system.
A Republican effort to overhaul the US immigration system once again teetered on the brink of failure as the Trump administration faced extraordinary backlash for its crackdown on migrants at the southern border that resulted in more than 2,300 children being separated from their parents.
Donald Trump waded into the roiling debate on Friday to instruct Republicans to “stop wasting their time on immigration”, an issue that has riven their party for more than a decade.
Republican leaders were twice forced to postpone an immigration measure, billed as a compromise between moderate and conservative members of the party, as negotiators made an 11th-hour push to find a consensus. The vote was first delayed to Friday and then to next week.
Republicans should stop working on immigration reform, the president wrote on Friday morning, “until after we elect more Senators and Congressmen/women in November. Dem[ocrat]s are just playing games, have no intention of doing anything to solves this decades old problem. We can pass great legislation after the Red Wave!”
The delicate negotiations are playing out against the backdrop of extraordinary international outrage over the president’s “zero-tolerance” enforcement policy captured by dramatic scenes of children in clustered in cages and young migrants crying for their parents.
More from The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani, reporting from shelters in Tijuana, Mexico:
By 8am 200 or so people are already queuing up at the border bridge in down town Tijuana, including dozens of children and infants who are sleeping soundly despite the smoky traffic and noisy street vendors hawking cheap breakfasts. The majority here are Mexican, but I also spoke to families from Honduras, El Salvador, Peru, Haiti, DRC and Cameroon. Six months ago I was here a reporting on deportations and no-one was talking about asylum. But there’s been a surge since the migrant caravan and today there are more a thousand people waiting to seek asylum at the Tijuana-San Diego crossing. The border stands still for nobody.
The ‘list’ was started by the asylum seekers to try and bring order to the chaos. Every newcomer’s name and country of origin is noted in the exercise book and confusingly, 10 people are given the same number. On Thursday almost 40 something people were let through by US authorities taking the list from 248 to 252. The newcomers today were given 370 and higher; there are more people arriving than going through.
At the front of the queue is a group from English speaking Cameroon fleeing repression by the French speaking government. They flew from Nairobi to Quito four months ago, from where they’ve travelled on bus, boat, and foot to the US border. A ma, 27, a teacher, was hospitalized after being beaten by soldiers. “Will the American government send me back to be killed because I speak English?”
Eloisa, 32, from Choluteca, southern Honduras, says she left with her 10-year-old son to escape Trump’s public enemy number one - the local MS13 gang- when she could no longer pay the extortion tax and feared they would hurt them. She doesn’t believe that children are being separated at the border, and thinks the media are exaggerating to instil fear into them, so they give-up. “I believe God will make sure we are fine.”
In ending mass family separation, the Trump administration failed to put in place procedures that would reunite families who have been separated in recent months.
The results of that chaos have been captured by reporters across the globe.
Washington Post journalist Bob Moore spoke to a Mexican woman, Jocelyn, who had been separated from her child. Jocelyn said federal agents “told her they would put her son up for adoption if she didn’t behave.”
I’ve heard Jocelyn tell the story before of her separation from her son James. Tonight she told me and ⁦@jribas⁩ that federal agents told her they would put her son up for adoption if she didn’t behave. pic.twitter.com/9UBlhTMURQ
And the Post’s Latin America correspondent, Kevin Sieff, said attorneys told him border patrol agents hadn’t always noted that a child had initially crossed the border with their parent. This would put children on the track of being processed like children who cross on their own, instead of categorizing them with people who had been separated from their parents.
Some of the bureaucratic failures are remarkable: Border Patrol agents who forgot to note that a child crossed the border with a parent. Mothers who were never given the toll-free phone number where they can ask about their kids.
A report from Reuters:
Before one deportation flight left for Honduras from Texas on Thursday, U.S. officials asked who had children in detention in the United States and the four who put up their hands were not put on the flight, deportees arriving in Honduras told Reuters.
And in the New Yorker, a tale of a clinician saying a child wouldn’t be reunited with his parents “unless he behaves.”
I hate these people.https://t.co/uKf3WEWtBD pic.twitter.com/bQFZmiCYb2
The president has returned to Twitter to discuss immigration, describing tales from the border as “phony stories of sadness and grief.”
Below, some quick context on his claims:
80% of Mexico’s Exports come to the United States. They totally rely on us, which is fine with me. They do have, though, very strong Immigration Laws. The U.S. has pathetically weak and ineffective Immigration Laws that the Democrats refuse to help us fix. Will speak to Mexico!
Mexico’s government, and the presidential candidates in its 1 July election, have strongly condemned the family separation policy.
Luis Videgaray, Mexico’s foreign secretary, said this week family separation: “clearly represents a violation of human rights.”
And in light of the family separation policy, members of Mexico’s Congress are calling for a review of the assistance and security coordination the country provides to the US.
In Aug 2017, the public gained insight into Trump’s private brokering with Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto, when a transcript of their phone call was released.
We must maintain a Strong Southern Border. We cannot allow our Country to be overrun by illegal immigrants as the Democrats tell their phony stories of sadness and grief, hoping it will help them in the elections. Obama and others had the same pictures, and did nothing about it!
While the adminstration has referred to families approaching the border with children as entering “illegally,” there are also reports of asylum-seekers being separated from their children. It is legal to seek asylum in the US.
The undocumented immigrant population has remained fairly steady in the US since it peaked at 12.2 million people in 2007.
Barack Obama’s adminstration was sharply criticized for its family detention policies after an influx of Central American children arrived at the border in 2014. Federal courts eventually stepped in and prohibited the government from detaining children, and therefore families, for more than 20 days. The Trump adminstration plans to violate the 20 day rule.
In the face of a perilous journey north and an unwelcoming government, it’s fair to wonder why people continue to flee Central America.
The Guardian’s Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips explains what is pushing people north:
Eight years on, as Donald Trump wages a hardline immigration crackdown, experts and activists say the last part of that statement has never been truer.
More than 130,000 Central Americans applied for asylum last year – the majority from a trio of countries known as the ‘northern triangle’, and most of them fleeing either grinding rural poverty or the rampant gang and drug-related violence that has transformed the region into the most murderous outside of an official war zone.
“This is not people going to the US to pursue the American Dream ... These are not economic migrants. These are families that have to leave everything behind because of life or death situations,” said Sofía Martínez, a Guatemala-based Central America expert for the International Crisis Group.
ABC News has shared an emotional video of a mother from Guatemala reuniting with her young son at an airport in Baltimore.
Emotional scenes as migrant mother and son from Guatemala, who were separated crossing the U.S. border, are finally reunited at BWI Airport in Maryland after a month apart. https://t.co/3lwrqXTByp pic.twitter.com/lEiJZB948X
She cries “te amo, te amo, te amo” (I love you, I love you, I love you) as she holds him.
The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani writes from Tijuana, where five asylum-seekers are still hoping to enter the US legally. Two of those people, Maria López and Roberto Santos, explained why they felt the need to flee their home in the Mexican state of Guerrero where the current homicide rate of 77 per 100,000 people is one of the highest in the world:
In recent years, the fertile community has been taken over by warring drug gangs who replaced maize and vegetable crops with poppies. The vast majority of 900 or so habitants have fled, forced to abandon homes, livestock and once productive land. “It’s a ghost town now, just poppies and gun battles,” said López in front of the Tijuana-San Diego border bridge, where they’ve come to see how far they’ve advanced on the asylum seeker’s waiting list.
The young family moved to the state capital Chilpancingo and started to build a new life. Santos worked construction, López was a cook’s assistant, and their son, now almost four, attended kindergarten.
But earlier this month, they received message that the criminal group knew where they were living, and they felt they had to run. “We couldn’t stay and wait to find out, what if they kill my son,” López said.
Donald Trump sent a series of tweets about immigration starting just before 7am this morning, including an order to Republicans to “stop wasting their time on immigration.”
In the messages, Trump blamed Democrats for the Republicans failure to pass immigration reform bills this week and backed Republicans running for office in the upcoming midterm elections.
Elect more Republicans in November and we will pass the finest, fairest and most comprehensive Immigration Bills anywhere in the world. Right now we have the dumbest and the worst. Dems are doing nothing but Obstructing. Remember their motto, RESIST! Ours is PRODUCE!
Republicans should stop wasting their time on Immigration until after we elect more Senators and Congressmen/women in November. Dems are just playing games, have no intention of doing anything to solves this decades old problem. We can pass great legislation after the Red Wave!
Facing condemnation from across the political spectrum, Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the end of his family separation policy that saw at least 2300 children separated from their parents.
But there remains no system in place to reunite families, his administration plans to prolong family detention past the legal limit of 20 days and attorneys have identified loopholes that could allow family separations to continue at a smaller scale.
Today, Guardian correspondents on both sides of the border, in Guatemala and across the US will deliver special reports from the scene and provide updates and analysis on the lingering chaos.
The latest news:
And a fresh dispatch from Brownsville, Texas: