Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ This is Bertha Arias.

She’s living in a safe house in Ciudad Juárez, waiting for a court to rule on an appeal of her asylum denial.

She’s one of many migrants facing and risking violence as she waits across the border. bit.ly/2OfdmuI

2/ Bertha Arias applied for asylum in the United States with her granddaughter in 2016.

Her granddaughter was told by members of the notorious MS-13 gang that she had to marry a gang member. bit.ly/2OfdmuI

3/ Her granddaughter was placed with her mother, who lived in Houston.

Bertha Arias was sent to a processing center, where she spent 19 months waiting for her asylum claim to be heard.

A U.S. immigration judge denied her claim. She was deported. bit.ly/2OfdmuI

4/ Back in Honduras, Bertha Arias faced more death threats from the gang. She again fled to Mexico.

She was taken in by Mexican citizen named Elena and her husband. They offer safe haven to many Hondurans fleeing their country. bit.ly/2OfdmuI

5/ Now, Bertha Arias is living in the shadows until the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rules on her appeal of the asylum denial. bit.ly/2OfdmuI

6/ On Friday, she tried to cross the international bridge so her lawyer could ask U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials to grant her an interview with asylum officers.

She hoped to stay in Texas while her appeal was being decided. bit.ly/2OfdmuI

7/ She said goodbye to Elena.

She walked across the bridge with her lawyer.

An officer listened attentively.

But in the end, Bertha Arias was sent back to Ciudad Juárez and told to wait. bit.ly/2OfdmuI

8/8 Her lawyer: “I feel like I let her down. I could have tried harder. But if something happens to her, they’re going to have blood on their hands.” bit.ly/2OfdmuI