To recap: for four hours a group of 15 asylum seekers have sat peacefully on US soil at The Otay Mesa port of entry. They are mostly kids but there is a family who you will remember from the famous photo of the tear gassing.
They arrived around 2pm PST with lawyers @cabrown08 @karalynum, me, and two members of Congress @RepBarragan and @RepJimmyGomez and a number of law student volunteers from @AlOtroLado_Org
They crossed into US territory which begins about twelve feet before the gate. The lawyers told @cbp that the 15 asylum seekers wish to apply for asylum. The asylum seekers sat down to show that they were not “rushing” or “storming” the border.
US officials have insisted that they go to another port immSan Ysidro but that one only accepts 40 a day and stopped around 10 AM today.
That port is also governed by “the list,” which is a waiting list of unholy collaboration between US officials, Mexican officials and some asylum seekers themselves. It is corrupt and long.
The applicants at Otay Mesa today are vulnerable in Tijuana. They have been threatened and are in danger. Last Saturday, two Honduran youth disappeared and are understood to have been murdered. These applicants are in danger in the Tijuana camps and cannot wait for the list.
US @CBP made a show of force with heavily armored personnel. Then they sent Mexican police after us. A standoff is going on and it is now cold and dark and children are tired and hungry.
I can tell you that these people are tough. They have marched across Central America. They have been threatened by gangs and cartels. They have crossed deserts and they have been teargassed. Their lawyers may be physically failing but they are strong.
And huge love for @RepBarragan and @RepJimmyGomez who are all in and committed for the long haul.
