Normally, we would call the caravan a ‘migrant’ crisis or a ‘refugee’ crisis. These people (human beings) are expected to follow the legal procedure to ask for asylum in the United States. It is a legal process that is in place as part of international conventions.
In fact, when Border Patrol turns away asylum seekers, they are breaking international law. Their status and their claim has the right to be evaluated by a judge. Those are the laws.
The way we discuss these migrants matters because the language that is being used is politicized to shape our view of who they are.
Some may ask why don’t they seek asylum in México? Some have but Mexico is not viewed as a safe third country. In fact, one asylum seeker I interviewed in Mexico a few months ago was tracked to a Mexican shelter by her abusive ex husband through the gangs.
