I volunteer as a translator with asylees coming through the Texas border and I wanted to make a thread on who these migrants are, what help is actually needed and why what DeSantis and Abbott are doing is so needlessly cruel.
Everyone is talking about it, but so few understand
Everyone is talking about it, but so few understand
WHO ARE THESE IMMIGRANTS?
The first and most important thing you should understand, these are LEGAL asylum seekers. They are not illegals. They are not undocumented.
They have been given permission by our government to enter the US pending their official court date.
The first and most important thing you should understand, these are LEGAL asylum seekers. They are not illegals. They are not undocumented.
They have been given permission by our government to enter the US pending their official court date.
The law ONLY requires that asylum seekers be present on US soil and that they present themselves to officials to request asylum.
That is it.
Anyone who calls them illegal immigrants is really telling on themselves and deliberately trying to confuse the issue.
That is it.
Anyone who calls them illegal immigrants is really telling on themselves and deliberately trying to confuse the issue.
Once they present themselves to border officials, they are processed and then given a court date to officially plead their case.
This court date is almost always a year away and in a major city far from the border, like Boston, NY, Miami, Chicago, etc.
This court date is almost always a year away and in a major city far from the border, like Boston, NY, Miami, Chicago, etc.
You can always spot the asylum seekers coming out of detention facilities because they don't have shoelaces (story for another day) and they have court papers in one hand.
Another thing I would note, the Biden admin is STILL immediately deporting the vast majority of asylees.
Another thing I would note, the Biden admin is STILL immediately deporting the vast majority of asylees.
The folks that make it through come from the most harrowing conditions you can imagine. I have met whole families who had to flee El Salvador on foot because gangs threatened to kill them if their son did not join.
I met a man who was attacked by police for leading a protest.
I met a man who was attacked by police for leading a protest.
In almost every case, these are smart, hard working CHRISTIAN refugees. Their ability to assimilate into America and thrive is limitless. They love America. They just want a chance to live and thrive in peace.
WHAT HELP DO THEY NEED?
Because these groups already have court dates and in almost every case, they have family they can stay with, they only really need two things: short term food and shelter and transportation.
And I mean short term. Usually less than 12 hours.
Because these groups already have court dates and in almost every case, they have family they can stay with, they only really need two things: short term food and shelter and transportation.
And I mean short term. Usually less than 12 hours.
In most cases, these asylees only need help getting to the bus station and maybe a bite to eat while they wait. Sometimes they need to stay overnight until the next bus leaves and sometimes they need help buying a ticket, though family usually buys the ticket for them.
Border towns and local non profits have been dealing with this for 4 years. This did not start with Biden. It was actually worse under Trump.
But these areas already know what to do with these transient asylees and they already have the resource networks in place to manage them
But these areas already know what to do with these transient asylees and they already have the resource networks in place to manage them
In most cases, an asylee will leave detention and organizations like Catholic Charities are right there to greet them and figure out if they can go straight to the bus station or if they need temporary shelter.
Local municipalities & non profits here have gotten real good at it
Local municipalities & non profits here have gotten real good at it
WHY IS "BUSSING" ASYLEES AROUND THE COUNTRY SO BAD?
Initially, I didn't complain too much about Abbott's decision to bus immigrants because it actually helped them.
It gave them a free ticket to get closer to family. And they weren't being forced to go.
But....
Initially, I didn't complain too much about Abbott's decision to bus immigrants because it actually helped them.
It gave them a free ticket to get closer to family. And they weren't being forced to go.
But....
The problem with Abbott's approach is that they are often lying to the migrants about where they are going and what will be waiting for them.
And even worse, when they get to NY or DC, Abbott is deliberately choosing to drop them off far away from the resources they need.
And even worse, when they get to NY or DC, Abbott is deliberately choosing to drop them off far away from the resources they need.
Abbott could easily notify DC that they are coming and then he could drop the migrants off right at the doorstep of the bus station or non-profit ready to greet them. It would cost him nothing.
But he is choosing to dump them where it harms the City and migrants the most.
But he is choosing to dump them where it harms the City and migrants the most.
By dumping them in front of the VPs house, like he did this week, now local officials have to figure out, without any notice, how to get 50 people in the heart of the City out to where the resources are ready to receive them.
And what DeSantis did yesterday takes it up another notch. He deliberately lied to immigrants in Texas who were already being managed by non-profits and shipped them into MV where no one was ready to help them. It was deliberately cruel and created to maximize pain.
Credit to the people of Martha's Vineyard who stepped up in a huge way and responded. They did exactly what they were supposed to: they took care of their immediate needs and helped them get on their way.
What folks here in Texas have been doing for years.
What folks here in Texas have been doing for years.
If Abbott and DeSantis actually cared about helping relieve the burden created by asylum seekers, they could just as easily and far more cost-effectively funnell the millions they are spending on their cynical stunt and give it to the non profits already doing the job.
Do asylees create a burden on border communities?
Sure. But it is a burden we have already learned how to manage and the only thing we really need is more resources.
It would be far more effective to just buy migrants a sandwich and a bus ticket than a private plane to MV.
Sure. But it is a burden we have already learned how to manage and the only thing we really need is more resources.
It would be far more effective to just buy migrants a sandwich and a bus ticket than a private plane to MV.
This is the kind of deliberate misinformation Conservatives are being fed.
These migrants SHOULDN'T stay in MV because they have family and court dates in other places.
They were TRICKED into being there.
These migrants SHOULDN'T stay in MV because they have family and court dates in other places.
They were TRICKED into being there.
https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1570809582909526019?t=yJnAQ7IUXtSik0BAHpf_RQ&s=19
Here is a short story on what organizations like Catholic Charities are doing to help
You will find no better Christians then the folks working to accept, love and support asylum seekers
"That which ye have done to the least of these..."
www-kgns-tv.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.kgns.t…
You will find no better Christians then the folks working to accept, love and support asylum seekers
"That which ye have done to the least of these..."
www-kgns-tv.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.kgns.t…
Addendum:
In light of my thread, please note how deliberately deceptive this is.
They are not illegals. They were never expected to stay in MV. Getting them help from the National Guard is a great way to care for them and get them on their way.
In light of my thread, please note how deliberately deceptive this is.
They are not illegals. They were never expected to stay in MV. Getting them help from the National Guard is a great way to care for them and get them on their way.
https://twitter.com/RepTroyNehls/status/1570860453244579840?t=EckcHP-gb4xWfxvBIZL3Og&s=19
One more story: met a couple of guys from Honduras who ran into a kind couple who bought them some Whataburger. I joked that, now that they had eaten Whataburger, they were "Tejanos de verdad". I will never forget their smile.
Always wish I could find that couple and thank them
Always wish I could find that couple and thank them
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