Maria is 27. She fled Honduras w/her husband & two kids. Gangs threatened her brother, endangering her family.
On her way to seek asylum, she was kidnapped in Mexico. Her father paid thousands to release her.
Now she's back in Mexico, courtesy of the US.
Oh, & she's pregnant.
On her way to seek asylum, she was kidnapped in Mexico. Her father paid thousands to release her.
Now she's back in Mexico, courtesy of the US.
Oh, & she's pregnant.
Maria is one of 50,000 people sent back under the Remain in Mexico policy.
She's living in a tent city w/1,600 others in Matamoros, a dangerous city in a dangerous state, marked by the State Dept. as "Level 4: Do Not Travel," where kidnappings, murder, sexual assault are common.
She's living in a tent city w/1,600 others in Matamoros, a dangerous city in a dangerous state, marked by the State Dept. as "Level 4: Do Not Travel," where kidnappings, murder, sexual assault are common.
So let's be clear: A *pregnant woman* who was already kidnapped in Mexico after fleeing violent gangs was sent back to live in a squalid encampment w/her kids.
CBP gave her no chance to properly explain her situation. This is how the US treats pregnant women fleeing danger.
CBP gave her no chance to properly explain her situation. This is how the US treats pregnant women fleeing danger.
It's filthy there. Her whole family wears the same clothes, putting them on wet after washing.
"Todos sucios nos bañamos y nos poníamos la misma ropa mojada en nuestro cuerpo se secaba la ropa."
The hardest thing, she said, is seeing her kids sleep on cardboard.
"Todos sucios nos bañamos y nos poníamos la misma ropa mojada en nuestro cuerpo se secaba la ropa."
The hardest thing, she said, is seeing her kids sleep on cardboard.
"Es que uno no espera esto la verdad. Ver a sus hijos durmiendo en el suelo sin cobijas. Pues ahí estuve durmiendo 15 días."
"You don't expect this to be true. Seeing your kids sleeping on the floor w/out blankets. Well, I was sleeping like that 15 days."
"You don't expect this to be true. Seeing your kids sleeping on the floor w/out blankets. Well, I was sleeping like that 15 days."
Two months she's been in Matamoros. She fights depression, thinking of her children & their smiles to stay happy—that's why she fights.
"Cuando yo me siento así deprimida volver a sonreír a mis hijos eso es lo que me hace más feliz y por ellos soy lo que lucho por eso.”
"Cuando yo me siento así deprimida volver a sonreír a mis hijos eso es lo que me hace más feliz y por ellos soy lo que lucho por eso.”
It's such a sham. This is how we're treating a *pregnant woman* w/two children. She's done something most of us would find impossible—escaping her home, leaving everything, traveling hundreds of miles for her family.
She was *kidnapped* in her attempt to save her family.
She was *kidnapped* in her attempt to save her family.
And then when she gets to our country, we say no, go back to Mexico w/her kids, come back later, you'll have a court date, good luck.
This is not how you treat others. Anyone who turned out someone in this way would be publicly shamed. Yet it's standard American policy today.
This is not how you treat others. Anyone who turned out someone in this way would be publicly shamed. Yet it's standard American policy today.
The scale of human suffering under Remain in Mexico is new & intense.
Thousands & thousands are being harmed daily by our gov. & representatives. Some of the most brave people, who've risked everything to save their lives & their family's lives, treated like this.
It must end.
Thousands & thousands are being harmed daily by our gov. & representatives. Some of the most brave people, who've risked everything to save their lives & their family's lives, treated like this.
It must end.
