Just like the African and Haitian refugees waiting for an asylum hearing at the San Ysidro Port of Entry into the United States, dozens of other families from southern Mexico are also congregating outside the border with the same purpose: Migrating into the country.
These families, originating from Michoacan, Guerrero and Veracruz, are currently located in a small lawn near the pedestrian crossing facilities.
"They first told us that it was to be a little more comfortable, that was just to trick us into gathering in this area. Then, when people tried to get closer to the line were told that they couldn't be there and could be arrested", said one of the Mexican refugees to Mexican newspaper El Sol de Tijuana.
Some families have already been relocated to a shelter in Tijuana, where they could stay for up to three days. Regardless, many of them are unsure of what they will do next if American border authorities fail to respond further.
Margarita Andonaegui, coordinator for the Salesiano Padre Chava Soup Kitchen, explained that this situations and their strategy to get a humanitarian visa is not the same as the original refugees from Africa and Haiti. "A phenomenon is developing where these Mexican families 'settle' near the border, even if border authorities are not receiving them and will reject almost every case", she told Mexican news outlet Uniradio Informa.
Via Uniradio and El Sol de Tijuana http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldetijuana/notas/n4191506.htm
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miranda.garcia@sandiegored.com
Translated by axel.alcala@sandiegored.com
