Day 98: “About three days ago I got a fever. They moved me alone to the flu cell. There is no one to take care of you there.”
-A, 11, El Salvador
Separated from his sister and her child earlier, he was then separated from his twin as well when he got sick.
-A, 11, El Salvador
Separated from his sister and her child earlier, he was then separated from his twin as well when he got sick.
Day 98 Alt text: painting of a cement container full of water with white, yellow, orange and red flowers and red petals floating in it.
Day 99: “When they separated us from my sister, we lost contact with my family. My sister had a paper with my parents’ address and phone number on it, and she also had that information memorized. I don’t know my parents’ number.”
-A, 11, El Salvador
#NoMoreKidsInCages
-A, 11, El Salvador
#NoMoreKidsInCages
Day 99 alt text: Painting of the closeup spots of two giraffes, their necks going opposite directions, the mane of one in the foreground.
Day 100: “No one from the detention center has tried to make contact with our family. We are all alone. Every time I talk about my family I start to cry.”
-A, 11, El Salvador
-A, 11, El Salvador
Day 100 alt text: Three in progress pictures of the same painting of a zebra. Its nose is in the bottom corner of the page and most of the page taken up by its face and ears.
Day 101: “It’s so ugly to be locked up all the time.”
-A, 11, El Salvador
-A, 11, El Salvador
Day 101 alt text: closeup painting of an off center white and light pink flower with a dark pink center
Day 102: “I have been here for 15 days. I have spoken to my mother, who lives in Delaware, only once since I have been here... I am sad because I miss my mother. I don’t know why I am still here.”
-C, teenager, Guatemala
-C, teenager, Guatemala
Day 102 alt text: Painting of a dark room with several dim lightbulbs blurred in the background and one hanging in the foreground
Day 103: “About 5 days ago, SYC who is 4 years old arrived. The guards told another girl who was 17 years old to take care of S. But this girl left so I began to take care of S since she was all by herself.”
-C, teenager, Guatemala
-C, teenager, Guatemala
day 103 alt text: Painting of a black lab head and neck with its face turned to the side, looking at something in the distance. There is white fur on its muzzle and around its eyes and neck. The entire painting has a blue tinge to it.
Day 104: “S is also from Guatemala and told me that she traveled to the United States with her father who dropped her off with someone and went home. S was supposed to meet her mom but she doesn’t know where she lives or her phone number. When S arrived, she cried a lot.”
-C
-C
Day 104 alt text: painting of a orange and blue fox curled up sleeping with its head on its tail and its paws tucked under its body to keep warm.
Day 105: “The guards asked me to bathe S the day before yesterday. This was her first bath since arriving 4 days before. I brushed S’s teeth after every meal.”
-C, teenager, Guatemala
I'm not sure why my stream keeps cutting out early 😭
-C, teenager, Guatemala
I'm not sure why my stream keeps cutting out early 😭
Day 105 alt text: painting of a brown horse with a blond and brown to nearly black mane, face over the edge of a wooden fence, warm and bright hazy colors all around it.
Day 106: “This morning around 6 am a guard came into the room and read off a list of people’s names... S’s name was on the list, but mine was not. It was early in the morning so S and I were asleep side by side. S heard her name and cling to me, crying.”
-C, teenager, Guatemala
-C, teenager, Guatemala
Day 106 alt text: painting of a baby giraffe's head and neck, looking slightly off centered at the camera, with no background
Day 107 1/2: “I had to explain to her that they had called her name, and that she had to go along without me. It was hard to have to tell her that...they did not tell here where she was going. S looked back at me as she joined the group...tears running down her face."
Day 107 2/2: "I felt very sad but did not want her to see me cry.”
-C, teen, Guatemala and the other child she’d been taking care of, S, 4, Guatemala
Alt text: Painting of a spaniel puppy with brown fur and curly ears laying with its paws by it's face
-C, teen, Guatemala and the other child she’d been taking care of, S, 4, Guatemala
Alt text: Painting of a spaniel puppy with brown fur and curly ears laying with its paws by it's face
Day 108: “The hielera was cold, really really cold. It was exactly as if we were inside a freezer.”
-E, child, who came with her 26 year old uncle from Honduras
alt text: painting of a koala sleeping with it's head against a tree, hugging itself
-E, child, who came with her 26 year old uncle from Honduras
alt text: painting of a koala sleeping with it's head against a tree, hugging itself
Day 109 1/2: “I was in a cell with my uncle. There were men and women in the same cell. I remember three men in all, including my uncle, each with kids. There were a lot of women in the cell."
Day 109 2/2: "The bathroom in the hielera was in the cell with us. There is no door or wall covering the front of the bathroom, so you can see inside of it when people are using it.”
-E, girl, Honduras
-E, girl, Honduras
Day 109 alt text: Painting of a Aussie puppy with black ears and half its face white, half black, so you can only see the light reflecting off of its eye on that side. The body is hazy with a light blue background.
Day 110: “I left the hielera after two days. That’s when they separated my uncle and me. They said he couldn’t enter the United States, so he would be deported.”
-E, child, Honduras who arrived with her 26 year old uncle.
-E, child, Honduras who arrived with her 26 year old uncle.
Day 110 alt text: painting of a dark room with a light coming from above. A man sits with his elbows forward and his head in his hands, his medium length black hair covering his hands and face.
Day 111 1/3: “They robbed us of all the money we had…They forced us all to undress, even my children… I felt horrible not being able to protect my family, as if I had completely failed. Our attackers told us if we reported what had happened, they would find us and kill us."
Day 111: 2/3: "We were left with hardly anything. When I found a coin worth fifty cents, one of my sons hopefully told me, ‘dad, with that we can buy water for everyone.’”
- C, adult, Guatemala traveling with his wife, 4 sons under 13 and 17 year old daughter who had suffered SA-
- C, adult, Guatemala traveling with his wife, 4 sons under 13 and 17 year old daughter who had suffered SA-
Day 111: 3/3 - Because they couldn’t afford the extortion a local cartel required.
Day 111 alt text - Painting of the ground view of a sequoia forest, two trees in the foreground and several fading into the mist and atmosphere in the background
Day 111 alt text - Painting of the ground view of a sequoia forest, two trees in the foreground and several fading into the mist and atmosphere in the background
Day 112 1/3: *CW- SA*
“To my 17 year old daughter, one of the assailants grabbed her by the neck and tried to suffocate her. I was so scared and worried that I started crying. I tried to shout to defend her, but an officer hit me on the back and knocked me onto the floor."
“To my 17 year old daughter, one of the assailants grabbed her by the neck and tried to suffocate her. I was so scared and worried that I started crying. I tried to shout to defend her, but an officer hit me on the back and knocked me onto the floor."
Day 112 2/3: *CW- SA*
"I felt so impotent. My job as a mother is to protect my daughter and I had failed.”
“I believe everything my daughter suffered in [the robbery] caused her to relive what happened to her in Guatemala. ...She tells me that she never wants to get married."
"I felt so impotent. My job as a mother is to protect my daughter and I had failed.”
“I believe everything my daughter suffered in [the robbery] caused her to relive what happened to her in Guatemala. ...She tells me that she never wants to get married."
Day 112 3/3: *CW- SA*
"There are days that she does not even want to leave her room. I want my daughter to get therapy. She has told me, crying, ‘Do you think therapy would help me forget? It hurts.’”
-D, adult, Guatemala- wife of C and mother of 5
"There are days that she does not even want to leave her room. I want my daughter to get therapy. She has told me, crying, ‘Do you think therapy would help me forget? It hurts.’”
-D, adult, Guatemala- wife of C and mother of 5
Day 112 Alt text- Painting of a full red and pink rosebud on a white background with purple shadows.
Day 113 1/3: “My 9 year old son was previously treated for symptoms consistent with leukemia...In Guatemala he was hospitalized, they gave him a lot of treatment in the form of pills and syrups every day... After so much treatment his stomach and intestines were left very weak.
Day 113 2/3: "Now, there is very little that he can eat without having pain...The cell was cold and dirty. They only gave us cold burritos to eat. I asked the officer if they had something different for the children."
Day 113 3/3: "The officer responded by shouting, ‘This is not a hotel! I’m fed up with you!’”
-D, mother, Guatemala
Day 113 alt text: Image of a hummingbird perched on a string of outdoor lights, one lightbulb near it as it looks up and away
-D, mother, Guatemala
Day 113 alt text: Image of a hummingbird perched on a string of outdoor lights, one lightbulb near it as it looks up and away
Day 114 1/3: “In Guatemala, our family was extorted by cartel members. We do not know the people who extorted my husband, but I take people who are involved in organized crime in our town very seriously. Years ago, they extorted members of my family.
Day 114 2/3: "When they didn’t pay, they killed several...
In March 2019, my daughter was coming home from school. Along the way, she was a victim of rape. Her assailants told her it was her dad’s fault for not paying them. They threatened her with death.
In March 2019, my daughter was coming home from school. Along the way, she was a victim of rape. Her assailants told her it was her dad’s fault for not paying them. They threatened her with death.
Day 114 2/3: After she suffered the rape and death threat, my daughter fell into a depression. She no longer left the house, hardly spoke and expressed the desire to take her own life.”
-D, mother, speaking of her 16 year old daughter
-D, mother, speaking of her 16 year old daughter
Day 114 alt text - painting of a doe on a white background, her fur brown and black with lighter colored ear fur and tufts on her face. She has snow on the top of her muzzle and a bit on the sides of her face as she looks into the camera.
Day 115: “In Guatemala I worked as an esthetician. I liked my job. We also had our house, the same one in which I was born and raised by my grandparents. I loved our house. I would never have fled my country if not for the safety of my children."
-D, mother, Guatemala
-D, mother, Guatemala
Day 115 alt text: Painting of a mother bear's giant paws with a white baby bear standing between the front paws, cautiously stepping forward toward the viewer
Day 116 1/2: “Upon arrival [at the CBP facility] I was again separated from my wife and children. This time, I saw how they mistreat people in the holding cells. I saw one officer push an older man’s head into the trash can after the man had thrown something away in the trash.
Day 116 2/2: "I told the officer he should respect the man because he was of an older age, the officer told me ‘shut up mother fucker’. That day I was not given dinner.”
-C, father, Guatemala
-C, father, Guatemala
Day 116 alt text: Five images of the same painting in progress, from an ink sketch of trees to ink plus some orange/pink behind it, to yellow over the orange, to the hazy white sun above the shadow of rounded, leafy trees under a sunrise
Day 117 1/2: “We were not given toothpaste, toothbrushes or soap. They took my husband’s sweater and my 17 year old daughter’s sweater as well. I think they do this to punish you. My 10 year old son got sick with a cough."
Day 117 2/2: "The bathroom was inside the cell and everyone could see when we used it. The left the lights on all night and all day. I did not know that I could declare our fear of returning to Mexico and nobody asked me.”
-D, mother, Guatemala
-D, mother, Guatemala
Day 117 alt text: Painting of the shadow of a modern wind turbine on a hill with a purple to pink gradient sunrise with stars spotting the sky as it brightens.
Day 118 1/2: “We are very afraid of being in Tijuana. There’s a lot of violence and we cannot trust the police... At the end of August 2019 there was a shootout in front of where we were staying here in Tijuana. We heard shots and were all hid in a room..."
Day 118 2/2: "My children are very afraid to leave the house. My daughter doesn’t even let me go to the other rooms alone. My children do not sleep. My youngest son, the four-year-old, asks me if they will come to kill him.”
-D, mother, Guatemala
-D, mother, Guatemala
Day 118 alt text: Painting of a brown barn owl looking slightly down at the viewer, its body facing to the left and the light shining from that direction as well.
Day 119 1/2: “In Tijuana it has been very difficult to find housing and to provide for my family due to lack of work. I have not even been able to pay for my children to see a doctor or dentist."
Day 119 2/2: "One of my sons is very sick and another is in a lot of pain because of a molar that needs a dentist’s attention.”
-C, father, Guatemala
-C, father, Guatemala
Day 119 alt text: Painting of a sunrise over a mountain in heavy fog, with a light pink sky and the sun behind a mountain with layers of darkening mountains as they get closer to the viewer
Day 120 1/2:
“We arrived [at the port of entry] at nine at night on September 2. That night I did not sleep to protect my family. I had to be on watch the entire night to make sure no one was going to harm us. My children slept on the street without a blanket."
“We arrived [at the port of entry] at nine at night on September 2. That night I did not sleep to protect my family. I had to be on watch the entire night to make sure no one was going to harm us. My children slept on the street without a blanket."
Day 120 2/2:
"We used our sweaters to cover them. I feel that my children have lost a year of their lives going through this entire process.”
-C, father, Guatemala
"We used our sweaters to cover them. I feel that my children have lost a year of their lives going through this entire process.”
-C, father, Guatemala
Day 120 alt text: Painting of a white kitten with black stripes laying down with its face resting on one front paw, the other off to the side, its eyes mostly closed.
Day 120 1/2: “I understand that at our next court we can ask for another fear of return to Mexico interview and that we might have to be sent back to the holding cell."
Day 121 2/2: "Even though my children have begged me not to return there, I feel it is necessary due to the severity of our situation in Mexico.”
-C, Father, Guatemala
-C, Father, Guatemala
Day 121 alt text: painting of a single open rose poking out between the slats of a tall white privacy fence, several leaves casting a shadow on the fence as the single pink flower opens toward the sky
*Content warning: Sexual Assault*
Day 122 1/2:
“My name is L.J.C. ... I am requesting asylum. I am currently under the...MPP program and am forced to stay in Tijuana... I tried to explain that I had been the victim of rape and kidnapping while I was in Chiapas, Mexico."
Day 122 1/2:
“My name is L.J.C. ... I am requesting asylum. I am currently under the...MPP program and am forced to stay in Tijuana... I tried to explain that I had been the victim of rape and kidnapping while I was in Chiapas, Mexico."
*Content warning: Sexual Assault*
Day 122 2/2:
"Again and again the officers asked for details. I did not know what more information I could give them. I asked, ‘Do you want me to explain how someone is raped?’”
-LJC, mother, Honduras
Day 122 2/2:
"Again and again the officers asked for details. I did not know what more information I could give them. I asked, ‘Do you want me to explain how someone is raped?’”
-LJC, mother, Honduras
Day 122 alt text: Painting of a small blue bird perched on a rock with a hazy background of more rocks behind it. It's facing away from the viewer but it's head is turned so one eye watches you.
Day 123 1/2: “Officers took my son and I to another place within the building for interrogation. Outside, I saw two identical posters against the wall, one was in English and the other in Spanish. It said I had the right to call my family or my lawyer at least once a day..."
Day 123 2/2: "I told them that I have a lawyer and I wished to speak with him. An officer shouted at me: ‘I don’t give a fuck! Who do you think you are to be able to call your lawyer?’ I did not answer.”
-LJC, mother, Honduras
-LJC, mother, Honduras
Day 123 alt text: Painting of a single Saguaro cactus (the ones with all the arms sticking out) against a teal background.
Day 124: “They took us back to our cell where I started to cry. My son saw that I was upset and told me, ‘Mom, I’ll make you a deal, I’ll stop biting my nails if you stop crying’.”
-LJC, adult, Honduras
-LJC, adult, Honduras
Day 123 alt text: Painting of a baby tan/light brown rabbit sitting calmly snuggled on a person's outstretched palm, looking at the viewer with one eye.
Day 125 1/2: “They asked about what had happened to me in Mexico. I tried to give a lot of details, but they repeatedly interrupted me. This was a very difficult conversation for me... and the fact that they kept interrupting me only made it worse."
Day 125 2/2: "If my lawyer had been present, he would have made sure my whole story was heard…
We were returned to Tijuana later that day…
I'm still afraid of being here in Mexico.”
-LJC, mother, Honduras
We were returned to Tijuana later that day…
I'm still afraid of being here in Mexico.”
-LJC, mother, Honduras
Day 125
Original photo credit: @CateSpice
Alt text: Painting of a brilliant blue/purple flower with five long petals that come to a point around five short rounded petals with a hazy green background full of spots of out of focus daisies
Original photo credit: @CateSpice
Alt text: Painting of a brilliant blue/purple flower with five long petals that come to a point around five short rounded petals with a hazy green background full of spots of out of focus daisies
@CateSpice Day 126: “A couple days after we arrived in Tijuana... 6-7 armed men arrived...we heard them pound on doors of neighboring rooms but luckily, they did not reach ours. My greatest fear was that they would come in and take my granddaughters.”
-J Z V C, adult, El Salvador
-J Z V C, adult, El Salvador
Day 126 alt text: Painting of the silhouette of a little girl standing among small plants with one arm curved up as if shading her eyes as she spins with her face up toward the moon, the sky pastel colors of a just-set sun
Day 127: “My clients asked to speak with their attorneys during the interview, before the interview, and after the interview, but they were ignored or told that they could not speak with me.”
-Lawyer Luis Gonzalez, representing a mother and her 11 year old son
-Lawyer Luis Gonzalez, representing a mother and her 11 year old son
Day 127 alt text: painting of a tan and brown puppy with a black muzzle looking concernedly up and slightly to the right, its ears perked up and listening.
Day 128 1/2: “My clients reported horrible detention conditions while in BP custody. [The] Mother told me that her 11 year old son got sick and kept throwing up."
Day 128 2/2: "One of the officers instead of providing assistance, she kept telling my 11 year old client to act like a man and stop throwing up.”
-Luis Gonzalez, attorney
-Luis Gonzalez, attorney
Day 128 alt text: Painting of a small antelope (p sure they're called dik-diks?) looking into the camera with a slight smile looking expression and enviable eyelashes.
Day 129 1/2: “It is completely inconceivable to me that we could be at a place in history where I have to write a 16 page declaration about how I cannot access my clients while in DHS custody-"
Day 129 2/2: "when they are in the middle of removal proceedings considering it is guaranteed by the US Constitution that they have a right to an attorney while in removal proceedings.”
-Leah Chavarria, Esq
-Leah Chavarria, Esq
Day 129 alt text: painting of a streetlight with four lamps to each direction and one in the middle, being viewed from below, with a slight blue background
Day 130 1/3: “In at least 4 cases... our clients were scheduled for interviews during court and then our office did not see or hear from them for nearly a week. After the 4th day of being unable to communicate with our clients, I or my staff sent emails to CBP or DHS counsel-"
Day 130 2/3: "(again) informing them we were going to have to contact Mexican authorities to file a missing persons report because DHS did not confirm whether our clients were still in custody or returned to Mexico."
Day 130 3/3: "In 3 of those cases a DHS officer responded, but only after we threatened to go to Mexican authorities”
-Leah Chavarria, Esq
-Leah Chavarria, Esq
Day 130 alt text: Painting of a orange hummingbird with red feathers on its face, its belly white and orange feathers and it's wings a blur of motion
Day 131 1/2: “The stakes are incredibly high for individuals facing non-refoulement interviews. For many individuals, their lives are in danger in Mexico... it is clear that the MPP program places thousands of people in extreme danger."
Day 131 2/2: "Many of the gangs people flee in Central America operate freely in Mexico.”
-Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres, J.D.
-Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres, J.D.
Day 131 alt text: Painting of a single stem of purple flowers in a clear glass jar
Day 132: “We have heard countless stories of women being trafficked and kidnapped, attempted kidnapping of children and other horrific stories. The majority of people feel they will not receive help from Mexican law enforcement.”
- Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres, JD
- Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres, JD
Day 132 alt text: painting of a hot air balloon rising between two bluffs with a blue sky fading to yellow/green near the horizon
Day 133: “In my experience, the department of homeland security (DHS) places individuals into the MPP program without asking about a fear of return to Mexico.”
-Margaret Cargioli, Attorney
-Margaret Cargioli, Attorney
Day 133 alt text: Painting of the shadow of a wind turbine on a close mountain with other mountains in the background against a pink sky with purple clouds
Day 134 1/4: “My client in MPP who expressed a fear of return to Mexico – who I described above -- was kidnapped and trafficked through Mexico based on her race, nationality, and membership in a particular social group. The Mexican government cannot or will not protect her."
Day 134 2/4: "Yet she did not pass her non-refoulement interview, and because the government denied my participation in the interview, I will never know why. They might have applied the wrong standard or failed to elicit relevant testimony."
Day 134 3/4: "If I had been present, I could have helped ensure an accurate result. Every moment of every day, my client fears for her life."
Day 134 4/4: "Horrifically, my client was once again victimized and assaulted last week after her September 23, 2019 non-refoulement interview and October 3, 2019 master calendar hearing and while awaiting an upcoming hearing.”
Day 134 alt text- painting of a single drop of water into still water with a red and orange light on it
Day 135 1/2: “While many clients have bona fide asylum claims, asylum law is complex and nuanced and clients- particularly those [with] significant histories of sexual abuse or other forms of trauma-"
Day 135 2/2: "are often unaware that some of the most atrocious persecution they have experienced is relevant.”
-Dorien Ediger-Seto, Senior Attorney
Alt text: painting of a yellow and gold twenty-ish pointed star decoration hanging from wooden rafters.
-Dorien Ediger-Seto, Senior Attorney
Alt text: painting of a yellow and gold twenty-ish pointed star decoration hanging from wooden rafters.
Day 136: “There are many sick children and they are not being taken to the doctor. I am very scared and anxious. I worry about my baby because she’s sick and I don’t know what will happen to us.”
-KLRL, 16, and her daughter, NVTR, 1, Honduras
-KLRL, 16, and her daughter, NVTR, 1, Honduras
Day 136 alt text: painting of a black spiral staircase viewed from the top with white walls, curving down to black tiled flooring visible in the middle of the spiral several floors below
Day 137: “My baby has not eaten a full meal in 15 days. I’m very worried and don’t know what to do.”
-K, 16, and her son, C, almost 3, both from El Salvador fleeing threats because her father and uncle fought in their civil war.
-K, 16, and her son, C, almost 3, both from El Salvador fleeing threats because her father and uncle fought in their civil war.
Day 137 alt text: Painting of the top of a single taper candle burning with red, green and yellow light circles and a dark background.
Day 138: “There is water in the cell but it tastes like bleach. I don’t drink the water from the cooler because I’m afraid it will poison my baby because I’m still nursing.”
LLMG, 17, Honduras, traveling with her son
LLMG, 17, Honduras, traveling with her son
Day 138 alt text: Painting of a dark blue sky with a full moon and cotton candy pink clouds of a sunrise
Day 139 1/2: “The guards at the second facility were mean and scary. They yelled at us. One day the guards demanded to know who had food. ‘Whoever has food will go to prison’, they yelled. They wanted to know if anyone had snuck in food in the cell."
Day 139 2/2: "They found one kid who was about 15 or 16 years old who had a burrito, pudding and juice. Officials handcuffed his wrists. My cousin and I were very shocked and scared.”
-LGLL, 12, Guatemala
-LGLL, 12, Guatemala
Day 139 alt text: Painting of the face of a black pug puppy pawing at scraps of food on the ground
Day 140: “I’m hungry here at Clint all the time. I’m so hungry that I’ve woken up in the middle of the night with hunger... I’m too scared to ask the officials here for any more food, even though there’s not enough food here for me.”
-LGLL, 12, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
-LGLL, 12, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
Day 140 alt text: painting of three tiny blue/green kingfisher birds squished together sitting on a telephone wire. They are facing the viewer and one is looking to the left, one up and to the left, and one to the right.
Day 141:
“I love school. I want to continue working hard in school. I really enjoy studying.”
-LGLL, 12, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
“I love school. I want to continue working hard in school. I really enjoy studying.”
-LGLL, 12, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
Day 141 Alt text: Painting of a black and white horizontal striped lighthouse (maybe Cape Hatteras?) small and close to the horizon with a vast, empty, light sky above
Day 142: “it is not possible to eat your lunch and make a phone call. We have to choose... I miss my family so much. I have skipped lunch three times... I wish I did not have to choose between [them].”
-LGLL, 12, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
-LGLL, 12, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
Day 142 Alt text: four orange and yellow jellyfish floating on a yellow and orange background. The largest in the top left, two clustered on the bottom right, one upside down on the bottom left and the tiny hint of a fifth in the bottom right corner.
Day 143 1/2: “At 3am The next day, the officers told us that our grandmother would be taken away. My grandmother tried to show the officers a paper signed by my parents saying that my grandmother had been entrusted to take care of us."
#AsylumAdvent
#AsylumAdvent
Day 143 2/2: "The officers rejected the paperwork saying it had to be signed by a judge. Then the officers took my dear grandmother away.”
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador
#AsylumAdvent
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador
#AsylumAdvent
Day 143 alt text: painting of the silhouette of the full statue of liberty against an orange and yellow sunset
Day 144: “I felt extremely sad when they separated us from our grandmother and I still feel sad that we are apart. Thinking about this makes me cry at times. The officers didn’t give us any information about how we could reunite with our grandmother.”
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador
Day 144 alt text: Painting of a girl standing in front of an orange, pink, purple and yellow sunset in the desert, facing the right with her arms behind her back, her long hair in a ponytail blowing slightly in the wind.
#AsylumAdvent
#AsylumAdvent
Day 145: “My sisters are still upset because they love [our grandmother] so much and want to be with her. Every night they cry for our grandmother and our mother.”
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador and her 4 and 8 year old sisters
#AsylumAdvent
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador and her 4 and 8 year old sisters
#AsylumAdvent
Day 145 alt text: painting of a red, pink and purple sunset with the silhouette of an older girl holding the hand of a young child, facing away from the viewer
Day 146: “I am worried about the very young children here who do not know what country they are from and where they should go. I worry about the many children who do not have passports.”
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador
#AsylumAdvent
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador
#AsylumAdvent
Day 146 alt text: painting of a single brown mouse in profile looking to the left
Day 147: “There is one very young girl in my room, only six years old, who doesn’t know where she is from or where she is supposed to go. I do not know what will happen to her.”
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador
#AsylumAdvent
-MFMO, 12, Ecuador
#AsylumAdvent
Day 147 alt text: painting of a butterfly with viewed from the top with both wings spread, one of it's antenna is broken about 2/3 of the way down and it's wings have white with a slight bit of yellow in the lighter areas, black stained-glass like designs on the rest.
Day 148: “My sister has been very sick. The doctor told her not to cry because if she cries she will get sicker.”
-MZL, 8 and her 6 year old sister, Honduras
#AsylumAdvent
-MZL, 8 and her 6 year old sister, Honduras
#AsylumAdvent
Day 148 alt text: painting of a tiny string of LED lights with leaves and an assortment of mini ornaments in white, sparkles and dark silver with several white bells laying on and around the string of lights.
Day 149: “We have been here for a long time. I have to take care of my little sister. She is very sad because she misses our mother and grandmother very much.”
-MZL, 8, Honduras
#AsylumAdvent
-MZL, 8, Honduras
#AsylumAdvent
Day 149 alt text: painting of a red Christmas bulb sitting on a table with a red tablecloth, with blurred yellow, orange, red and green lights in the background.
Day 150: “One of the children in our cell is mean to us and tells us that we can’t play and that we will be locked in a dark room here. I believe her and I don’t want to be locked in the dark room.”
-MZL, 8, and LLO, 6, Honduras
#AsylumAdvent
-MZL, 8, and LLO, 6, Honduras
#AsylumAdvent
Day 150 alt text: Painting of a diamond shape of lit, colored tea lights, 16 total, inblue, green, purple and red on a lighter brown background with a darker brown around the edges of the page.
Day 151: “We have only been allowed to go outside four times.”
-MZL, 8 and LLO, 6, Honduras. They had been held 3 weeks at the time of the declaration.
-MZL, 8 and LLO, 6, Honduras. They had been held 3 weeks at the time of the declaration.
Day 151 alt: painting of a bernese mountain dog puppy with black ears and a back face with brown eyebrows and cheeks and a white snout/ stripe up the middle of her forehead. Her tongue is sticking out and she's laying in the snow, snowflakes all over her snout, face and ears.
Day 152: “We have only been able to brush our teeth twice here. There is no soap except when you take a bath. We have been wearing the same clothes the entire time we have been here and no one has washed them.”
-MZL, 8 and LLO, 6, Honduras
#AsylumAdvent
-MZL, 8 and LLO, 6, Honduras
#AsylumAdvent
Day 152 alt text: Painting of a dark background with a light up yellow/gold star surrounded by out of focus strings of lights
Day 153: “I have only been allowed to bathe twice since we came here. My sister has only been allowed to bathe once. The water is very cold. Some kids don’t mind the cold water, but I wish it was warm.”
-MZL, 8 and LLO, 6, Honduras
-MZL, 8 and LLO, 6, Honduras
Day 153 alt text: painting of three red bells on strands of twine with a green ribbon tied in a bow at the top
Day 154: “It is cold at night in our room. We spend pretty much the entire day in our room. The meals are the same every day and there is not enough. I am often hungry.”
-UEPF, teenage boy, El Salvador
#AsylumAdvent
-UEPF, teenage boy, El Salvador
#AsylumAdvent
Day 154 alt text: painting of darkness with a single red outdoor light on two strands with yellow, green, red and blue hazy lights in the background.
Day 155: “I have not been offered any new clothing since I arrived. I have not been able to wash my clothes.”
-UEPF, teenage boy held for 19 days at the time of his declaration, from El Salvador
#AsylumAdvent
-UEPF, teenage boy held for 19 days at the time of his declaration, from El Salvador
#AsylumAdvent
Day 155 alt text: Painting of a black hand against a white textured wall holding a small white flower
Day 156: “When we arrived at the border with my uncle, he was separated from us. I do not know where he is. My brother and I were taken to a freezer box for about 10 hours.”
-WASG, 12 and CNSG, 4, Guatemala
-WASG, 12 and CNSG, 4, Guatemala
Day 156 alt text - four paintings in progress of two jellyfish against a yellow background with orange and blue splatters, one blue jellyfish on the right, one orange with blue accents on the bottom left.
Day 157: “I have not been told when or whether we will be released from custody. My brother has a learning disability. He cannot speak very clearly, but I understand him.”
-WASG, 12, and CNSG, 4, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
-WASG, 12, and CNSG, 4, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
Day 157 alt text: painting of an orange and yellow sunset with a small human silhouette on the top of a hill looking up at a single palm tree
Day 158: “I have taken care of him since he was a baby. He trusts me.”
-WASG, 12 and CNSG, 4, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
-WASG, 12 and CNSG, 4, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
Day 158 alt text: Painting of an assortment of white ornaments on a gray/blue background. White bells, pinecone shaped bulbs, silver and white bulbs and small plaster cutouts of hearts, stars, christmas trees and reindeer.
Day 159: “At Clint, we are housed in a room with dozens of other children – some as young as two years old. Many do not have their parents with them.”
-WASG, 12, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
-WASG, 12, Guatemala
#AsylumAdvent
Day 159 alt text: Painting of a flat lay of a few sparse holly leaves and small twigs and holly berries on a flat, nearly white background.
