They travelled from Central America to the United States escaping the danger of their home countries in search of asylum. Now the rising number of migrants stranded in the Mexican border town of Juarez say that’s become too dangerous to stay thanks to few opportunities to earn an income and a lack of safe shelter.
From January 29 to June 24 more than 15,000 asylum seekers have been returned to Mexican border cities Tijuana, Juarez and Mexicali after the US Department of Homeland Security began returning asylum seekers to Mexico while they wait for their asylum hearing.
“It’s very bad, we left our country looking for security in the United Sates and they bring you back here,” says a mother escaping gang violence in El Salvador. “We face a lot of risks. There’s a lot of racism.”
Fourteen year-old Alison says her family of four fled Honduras believing her mum’s life was under threat. Once they made it to the US the family claimed asylum.
The family was then held for four days in custody at a US border station in New Mexico, likening the conditions to a jail. She claims her family was forced to sleep on the floor in the overcrowded facility. They were then sent to Juarez where they live in a shelter and wait for news of their hearing.
For Alison, the US is no longer the land of hopes and dreams she once imagined.
“I was really excited to go to the United States,” she said. “I don’t feel excited after that.”
Ciaran Jenkins from Channel 4 went to Mexico to meet the families, stuck in the middle. Watch the full story above.
