Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ You may have seen the photo of Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his daughter Valeria, dead after drowning in the Rio Grande.

Why did they try to swim? They were allegedly unable to immediately seek asylum because of a Trump administration policy. bit.ly/2xgRaFc

2/ The policy is called “metering.”

Last night, @JulianCastro said the policy is “basically what prompted Óscar and Valeria to make that risky swim across the river.” #DemDebate bit.ly/2xgRaFc

3/ The policy is meant to address a record surge of migrants, mainly families from Central America, making the trek through Mexico to the U.S. bit.ly/2xgRaFc

4/ U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have been stopping migrants at international bridges.

They are telling them they must wait in Mexico for their turn to make an asylum claim. bit.ly/2xgRaFc

5/ The practice has led to long wait times and overcrowded conditions on the Mexico side of the border. bit.ly/2xgRaFc

6/ Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez’s wife said the family had spent 2 months waiting in a migrant camp.

Then Ramírez’s decided to attempt to swim across the river.

His wife watched from the shore as her husband and daughter were swept away. bit.ly/2xgRaFc

7/ Critics say the policy pushes many asylum seekers to illegally cross the border between ports of entry.

Just like how Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez did. bit.ly/2xgRaFc

8/ Last night on the debate stage, @JulianCastro said he would end the policy on his first day in office if elected president. bit.ly/2xgRaFc

9/ @JulianCastro also called for an end to the “Remain in Mexico” program.

That program requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their immigration hearings after they’ve already crossed the border and been processed. bit.ly/2xgRaFc

10/10 Read more here. bit.ly/2xgRaFc