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Yesterday, we talked to a man here in the Piedras Negras shelter w/a very disturbing story.
He went out one night to withdraw some money & was set upon by federales, who beat his head & were about to deport him.
They stole his phone & his cash—3,800 pesos & $40.
He went out one night to withdraw some money & was set upon by federales, who beat his head & were about to deport him.
They stole his phone & his cash—3,800 pesos & $40.
We can't show you his photo for fear of repercussion.
"They were ready to deport me," he said, before he told them "I need my child."
He has a small child in here w/him, & he convinced the cops to take him back to the shelter "for five minutes" w/his kid.
"They were ready to deport me," he said, before he told them "I need my child."
He has a small child in here w/him, & he convinced the cops to take him back to the shelter "for five minutes" w/his kid.
In the shelter, other migrants saw that he'd been hit & were enraged. "Why'd you hit him?" they demanded of the cops, before taking him in & keeping him inside w/his kid.
He's now waiting w/others, but he's scared to interact w/officials any more.
He's now waiting w/others, but he's scared to interact w/officials any more.
"I'm scared b/c these people can take my documents, they can cuff me & take me."
We hear this often: People distrustful that officials will follow through on promises, esp. for humanitarian visas that let them leave the shelter.
We've even heard of cops destroying these visas.
We hear this often: People distrustful that officials will follow through on promises, esp. for humanitarian visas that let them leave the shelter.
We've even heard of cops destroying these visas.
His kid is adorable. We wish we could show you photos.
He's the cutest, his tiny hands poking out through the chain-link fence, always smiling & laughing.
Instead, here are some others like him. This is how they're spending formative weeks, joking w/soldiers through a fence.
He's the cutest, his tiny hands poking out through the chain-link fence, always smiling & laughing.
Instead, here are some others like him. This is how they're spending formative weeks, joking w/soldiers through a fence.
His background story is also devastating: He lived in North Carolina for years & was deported in 2013.
Two of his children & their mother are still in the States. He hasn't seen them in five years & hasn't spoken to them since his phone was stolen.
Two of his children & their mother are still in the States. He hasn't seen them in five years & hasn't spoken to them since his phone was stolen.
In Honduras, he worked as a taxi driver but was frequently extorted.
"If you don't pay us, we'll kill you," the maras said.
He fled. "I want to take him to N. Carolina," he says, holding his son & tearing up.
There are so many like him. Few have any idea what to do here.
"If you don't pay us, we'll kill you," the maras said.
He fled. "I want to take him to N. Carolina," he says, holding his son & tearing up.
There are so many like him. Few have any idea what to do here.
