A look inside the journey asylum seekers make through Mexico to reach U.S. border

Summary

Le nombre de migrants atteignant un sommet à la frontière sud des États-Unis a été enregistré à la fin de l'année dernière. Beaucoup d'entre eux, originaires de pays comme la Russie, l'Inde, la Chine, l'Afghanistan et le Bangladesh, parcourent plus de 1500 miles à travers le Mexique pour tenter de trouver asile aux États-Unis. Le Mexique est devenu un carrefour mondial pour ces migrants qui affrontent de nombreux obstacles, y compris le danger de la route et la corruption, dans l'espoir d'une vie meilleure.

Takeaways

• 🌎 Le nombre de personnes migrantes atteignant le bord sud des États-Unis a atteint un record en 2023, avec une origine mondiale de plus en plus diversifiée.
• 🚶‍♂️ Les migrants voyagent souvent plus de 1500 miles à travers le Mexique avant d'arriver aux États-Unis, souvent en quête d'asile.
• 🇻🇪 Un nombre croissant de migrants viennent de pays d'Amérique du Sud, comme le Venezuela et l'Équateur, selon les données gouvernementales mexicaines.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Les migrants voyagent souvent en familles, avec de nombreux enfants, présentant de nombreux profils et vulnérabilités.
• 🌡️ Les conditions du voyage sont difficiles, avec des températures élevées et des besoins essentiels comme l'eau et la nourriture pour les enfants.
• 🏥 Les migrants ont des rêves simples mais importants, comme l'aspiration à étudier et devenir médecin pour certains enfants.
• 🌆 Le Mexique est devenu un carrefour mondial pour les migrants en quête d'asile, avec des milliers de personnes passant par chaque jour.
• 💸 Des passeurs, comme Mario, offrent des services coûteux pour aider les migrants à atteindre le nord du Mexique ou les États-Unis rapidement.
• 🚫 Les migrants font face à de nombreux obstacles, y compris des checkpoints et des risques de déplacement involontaire vers le sud du Mexique.
• 📱 Les migrants utilisent des applications comme CBP-One pour essayer d'obtenir des rendez-vous avec l'immigration américaine, une voie légale pour demander l'asile.
• 🏡 Les familles restent souvent bloquées près de la frontière, attendant de pouvoir entrer légalement aux États-Unis malgré la proximité.

Q & A

Quel est le record atteint par le nombre de migrants à la frontière sud des États-Unis?

Le record de migrants à la frontière sud des États-Unis a été atteint à la fin de l'année précédente.

Quelle est la distance que les migrants doivent parcourir à travers le Mexique avant d'arriver aux États-Unis?

Les migrants doivent parcourir plus de 1500 miles à travers le Mexique avant de pouvoir atteindre les États-Unis.

D'où viennent les familles rencontrées sur la route au Mexique?

Les familles rencontrées sur la route au Mexique sont originaires du Venezuela.

Quelle est la raison principale pour laquelle ces familles quittent leur pays?

Le gouvernement horrible et la situation politique difficile dans leur pays sont les raisons principales pour lesquelles ces familles quittent leur pays.

Quels sont les besoins les plus urgents exprimés par les migrants?

Les migrants ont exprimé un besoin urgent pour de l'eau et de la nourriture pour les enfants.

Quel est le rêve de la jeune fille de 10 ans, Brittany?

Brittany aspire à étudier et à devenir médecin.

Quelle est la situation actuelle des migrants au Mexique selon le script?

Le Mexique est devenu un carrefour mondial pour les migrants avec des milliers de demandeurs d'asile passant chaque jour, la plupart étant en route vers les États-Unis.

Quels sont les pays d'origine des migrants qui ont dépassé les migrants d'Amérique centrale au Mexique en 2023?

Les migrants d'Amérique du Sud, en particulier du Venezuela et de l'Équateur, ont dépassé ceux d'Amérique centrale en 2023.

Quels sont les défis supplémentaires que les migrants rencontrent avant d'atteindre la frontière sud des États-Unis?

Les migrants doivent affronter 1500 miles et de nombreux obstacles supplémentaires avant d'atteindre la frontière sud des États-Unis.

Comment les migrants qui peuvent se permettre de payer peuvent-ils éviter les obstacles du trajet?

Les migrants qui peuvent se permettre de payer peuvent éviter les obstacles en utilisant les services de passeurs qui leur garantissent un passage rapide vers la frontière nord.

Quelle est l'estimation du nombre de migrants qui arrivent chaque jour et quelle est la proportion de ceux qui sont enregistrés?

Selon certaines estimations, entre 4000 et 6000 migrants arrivent chaque jour, et seulement la moitié sont enregistrés par l'agence mexicaine pour les réfugiés, COMAR.

Outlines

00:00

🌎 移民潮：穿越墨西哥的绝望之旅

本段落介绍了一群来自委内瑞拉的家庭，他们为了寻求更好的生活，踏上了前往美国的危险旅程。他们穿越了墨西哥南部边境，历经了长达1500英里的艰难跋涉。这些家庭在墨西哥路边与记者相遇，分享了他们的故事，包括他们为何离开祖国、在旅途中所面临的挑战，以及他们对未来的希望。他们中有的人希望在美国学习成为医生，有的则梦想着去迪士尼乐园。这段落揭示了全球移民潮的严峻现实，以及墨西哥南部如何成为全球移民的交汇点。

05:01

🚸 家庭与儿童的艰难迁徙：从委内瑞拉到美国

这段落讲述了一个委内瑞拉家庭的迁徙故事，他们自2023年9月离开祖国，经历了危险的达连地峡进入中美洲。家庭成员分享了他们在旅途中所目睹的恐怖场景，以及对孩子们安全的担忧。他们讲述了如何在食物和水短缺的情况下生存，以及他们如何互相帮助和支持。在墨西哥，他们进入了所谓的“封锁区”，这是一个由墨西哥官员在美国压力下设立的区域，旨在限制移民流动。尽管面临被遣返回南部的风险，这些家庭仍然保持着积极的态度，希望能够继续他们的旅程。

10:01

🏛️ 边境的等待：寻求庇护者的挑战

最后这段落聚焦于那些到达美国-墨西哥边境的寻求庇护者所面临的挑战。许多家庭在边境附近等待，希望能够合法进入美国。他们通过CBP-ONE应用程序尝试预约，这是寻求庇护者在继续前往边境之前的合法途径。然而，许多家庭在尝试预约时遇到困难，不得不在边境附近的庇护所等待。这些庇护所由像“救助儿童会”这样的组织运营，为儿童提供安全的空间和活动，帮助他们适应新环境。尽管他们距离边境只有几英里，但对于这些家庭来说，能够靠近梦想之地已经足够。

Keywords

💡Frontière sud des États-Unis

La frontière sud des États-Unis est le point d'entrée pour de nombreux migrants et demandeurs d'asile qui cherchent à entrer dans le pays. Dans le script, il est mentionné que le nombre de migrants a atteint un record élevé à la fin de l'année précédente, et que les migrants traversent le Mexique pour tenter leur chance d'arriver aux États-Unis.

💡Migrants

Les migrants sont les personnes qui quittent leur pays d'origine pour aller vivre dans un autre pays, souvent à la recherche de meilleures conditions de vie ou pour fuir des situations dangereuses. Le script aborde l'histoire de familles originaires du Venezuela qui migrent vers les États-Unis, motivées par des conditions gouvernementales horribles dans leur pays.

💡Asile

L'asile est une protection internationale accordée à ceux qui fuient leur pays d'origine à cause de la persécution. Dans le script, les familles mentionnées partent pour les États-Unis dans le but de demander l'asile, cherchant à échapper à la misère et à la répression dans leur pays.

💡Mexique

Le Mexique sert de corridor pour de nombreux migrants qui souhaitent atteindre les États-Unis. Le script décrit le parcours des migrants qui traversent le Mexique, un voyage de plus de 1500 miles, pour tenter de rejoindre la frontière américaine.

💡Venezuela

Le Venezuela est le pays d'origine de certaines des familles mentionnées dans le script, qui fuient à cause de conditions gouvernementales horribles et d'une vie difficile. Leur quête pour un meilleur avenir les pousse à migrer vers les États-Unis.

💡Détention

La détention fait référence à l'acte d'empêcher librement une personne de quitter un lieu, souvent utilisé dans le contexte de l'immigration pour désigner l'arrestation et le maintien en détention des migrants sans papiers. Dans le script, il est mentionné que les migrants sans papiers peuvent être détenus par les autorités mexicaines.

💡Smugglers (passeurs)

Les passeurs sont des individus qui aident illégalement les migrants à entrer dans un pays en échange de fonds. Dans le script, un passeur nommé Mario est mentionné, qui offre des services pour aider les migrants à atteindre les États-Unis via des voies illégales.

💡Darien Gap

Le Darien Gap est une région montagneuse et dense qui sépare le Panama de la Colombie, souvent considérée comme une des parties les plus dangereuses du trajet des migrants. Dans le script, les migrants mentionnés ont traversé le Darien Gap pour atteindre l'Amérique centrale.

💡Demandeurs d'asile

Les demandeurs d'asile sont des personnes qui ont demandé l'asile dans un pays pour fuir la persécution, la guerre ou d'autres situations dangereuses. Le script parle de familles qui espèrent obtenir un rendez-vous avec les services d'immigration américains pour demander l'asile.

💡Save the Children

Save the Children est une organisation internationale qui s'occupe des droits et du bien-être des enfants. Dans le script, l'organisation est mentionnée pour son travail dans les abris le long de la frontière entre les États-Unis et le Mexique, où elle crée des espaces sûrs et amicaux pour les enfants migrants.

Highlights

Record high of migrants at the U.S. southern border reached at the end of last year.

Many migrants travel more than 1500 miles through Mexico before reaching the U.S. border.

Families from Venezuela have been walking for days under harsh conditions.

Migrants seek asylum in the U.S. to escape their country's horrible government.

Migrants face extreme heat and dehydration during their journey.

Children like 10-year-old Brittany have witnessed and lived through terrible experiences.

Basic needs like water and food for the children are critical during the journey.

Migrants' dreams of a better life in the U.S., such as studying to become a doctor.

Southern Mexico has become a global crossroads for asylum seekers.

The number of migrants from South America, particularly Venezuela and Ecuador, has surpassed those from Central America.

Significant increases in migrants from Russia, India, China, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

Mexico has become a popular route for Asian and African migrants heading to the U.S.

Smugglers offer a quicker and safer passage to the U.S. for a high price.

Migrants face numerous obstacles and dangers on their journey through Mexico.

Some migrants resort to using rafts to cross the Suchiate River from Guatemala to Mexico.

Mexican officials have set up a 'containment zone' under U.S. pressure to manage migration.

Migrants without proper paperwork risk being detained at checkpoints.

Despite challenges, migrants remain hopeful and determined to reach the U.S.

Save the Children provides support and safe spaces for migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Migrant families face the dilemma of being close to the U.S. border but unable to cross.

Migrant children's mental health and well-being are a concern after their traumatic journeys.

Transcripts

S

AT THE U.S. SOUTHERN BORDER

REACHED A RECORD HIGH AT THE END

OF LAST YEAR.

BUT BEFORE CROSSING INTO THE US,

-- THE U.S. MANY IN THIS

, INCREASINGLY-GLOBAL GROUP

TRAVEL MORE THAN 1500 MILES

THROUGH MEXICO.

WITH PRODUCERS SAM WEBER AND

CHRISTINE ROMO, WE RECENTLY WENT

TO MEXICO'S SOUTHERN BORDER WITH

GUATEMALA, TO REPORT ON THIS

DSPERATE JOURNEY.

>> WHEN WE MET THEM ON THIS

MEXICO ROADSIDE, THESE FAMILIES,

ORIGINALLY FROM VENEZUELA, HAD

ALREADY BEEN WALKING FOR IAN

DAYS.

AMNA: WHERE ARE THEY HEADED NOW?

>> WE ARE GOING TO THE UNITED

STATES, GOD PERMITTING.

>> WHY DID YOU LEAVE?

>> MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY.

THE GOVERNMENT IS HORRIBLE.

AMNA: UNDER A BLAZING SUN, IN

NEAR 90 DEGREE HEAT, THEY SHARE

THEY'RE HEADING TO THE U.S. TO

SEEK ASYLUM.

WE ASK WHAT THEY NEED.

>> WATER.

WATER.

>> AND FOOD FOR THE CHILDREN.

AMNA: 10-YEAR-OLD BRITTANY HAS

ALREADY WITNESSED AND LIVED WHAT

NO CHILD SHOULD.

BRITTANY: WE HAD TO PASS THROUGH

THE JUNGLE AND CROSS RIVERS.

THEY STOLE OUR MONEY AND LIED TO

US.

AMNA: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU

HAD ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

AMNA: BUT SHE'S FUELED BY A

SIMPLE DREAM.

>> I WANT TO STUDY.

AMNA: STUDY, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO

STUDY?

>> DOCTOR.

AMNA: LITTLE BROTHER JASON IS

JUST JASON: I'M GOING TO THE

FIVE.

DISNEY CASTLE.

AMNA: YOU'RE GOING TO THE DISNEY

CASTLE?

AND WITH THAT, THEY PRESS ON.

EACH STEP, THEY HOPE, BRINGING

THEM CLOSER TO A BETTER LIFE.

AS MIGRATION WORLDWIDE ERUPTS TO

RECORD LEVELS, THIS PART OF

SOUTHERN MEXICO HAS BECOME A

GLOBAL CROSSROADS, WITH

THOUSANDS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS

PASSING THROUGH EACH DAY, MOST

ON THEIR WAY TO THE UNITED

STATES.

>> WE ARE HERE RIGHT NOW.

AND HERE IS MAINLY THE WAY THAT

PEOPLE ENTER TO MEXICO.

AMNA: ELI CRUZ LEADS THE

TAPACHULA SUB OFFICE FOR THE

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL

ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION.

ELI: IT'S NOT JUST THAT WOMEN OR

MEN ARE TRAVELING BY THEMSELVES.

THEY'RE TRAVELING WITH THEIR

FAMILIES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHILDREN.

WE ARE LOOKING WE ARE SEEING A

LOT OF DIFFERENT PROFILES, WITH

A LOT OF VULNERABILITIES.

AMNA: FOR YEARS, MIGRANTS

CROSSING INTO MEXICO WERE

LARGELY FROM CENTRAL AMERICA

.

2023 MARKED THE FIRST YEAR THAT

PEOPLE FROM SOUTH AMERICA

OUTPACED THEM, WITH RECORD

NUMBERS FROM VENEZUELA AND

ECUADOR, ACCORDING TO MEXICAN

GOVERNMENT DATA.

BUT THE PATTERNS CONTINUE TO

SHIFT.

WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE FROM EVEN

FURTHER AWAY, FOR EXAMPLE, AT

THE U.S. SOUTHERN BORDER?

SOME OF THE BIGGEST JUMPS WE'VE

BEEN SEEING OVER THE LAST THREE

YEARS HAVE BEEN FOR PEOPLE FROM

RUSSIA, FROM INDIA, FROM CHINA.

HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING THAT HERE

AS WELL?

ELI: YES.

IN THE LAST YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN

SEEING A LOT OF THESE

NATIONALITIES.

ALSO PEOPLE FROM AFGHANISTAN, OR

FROM BANGLADESH.

AMNA: OVER THE PAST DECADE,

MEXICO HAS BECOME AN

INCREASINGLY POPULAR AND

ACCESSIBLE ROUTE TO THE U.S. FOR

ASIAN AND AFRICAN MIGRANTS.

IN FACT, OUT OF 195 RECOGNIZED

COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD MEXICAN

OFFICIALS SAY 120 NATIONALITIES

HAVE COME ACROSS THEIR SOUTHERN

BORDER.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CROSSINGS

HAPPEN HERE.

THIS SHALLOW STRETCH OF THE

SUCHIATE RIVER IS ALL THAT

SEPARATES GUATEMALA FROM MEXICO

AT THIS POINT AND RAFTS

REGULARLY FERRY PEOPLE ACROSS

.

BUT IN SOME WAYS, THE MOST

DIFFICULT PART OF THE JOURNEY IS

STILL AHEAD.

SOME 1500 MILES AND MANY MORE

OBSTACLES BEFORE THE U.S.

SOUTHERN BORDER.

BUT THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT SKIP

ALL OF THOSE OBSTACLES AND GAIN

SWIFT PASSAGE TO THE NORTHERN

BORDER.

SMUGGLERS LIKE MARIO HANDLE ALL

THE DETAILS.

>> MY CLIENTS ALL WANT TO ARRIVE

SAFE AND SOUND IN THE UNITED

STATES.

AMNA: WE'RE USING A DIFFERENT

NAME TO PROTECT HIM FROM CARTEL

RETRIBUTION.

HE CHARGES UP TO $21,000 PER

PERSON FOR LONGER JOURNEYS

AND SAYS HIS NETWORK HAS MOVED

50,000 PEOPLE INTO THE U.S.

SINCE 2021.

AMNA: WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM WHEN

THEY APPROACH YOU?

DO YOU GUARANTEE THEM THAT THEY

WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT?

MARIO IT'S MY WORD AND MY

: REPUTATION ON THE LINE.

OUT OF ALL THE CLIENTS THAT I'VE

HAD, ONLY TWO OR THREE HAVE BEEN

DETAINED.

THE REST ARE IN THE UNITED

STATES.

AMNA: NEWSHOUR HAS NO WAY TO

VERIFY THAT CLAIM.

I ASK HIM ABOUT MIGRANTS'

STORIES OF ABUSE AND ASSAULT ON

THEIR JOURNEYS.

MARIO: YES, IT'S TRUE.

THE PEOPLE THAT HAPPENS TO DON'T

HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR MY

SERVICES.

THE OVERLAND TRIP ACROSS MEXICO

CAN TAKE AROUND 15 DAYS BUT I

CAN MOVE ANY NATIONALITY INTO

THE UNITED STATES VIA PLANE IN A

MATTER OF HOURS.

THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY TO GET IN.

AMNA: WITH SCARCE RESOURCES, 24

-YEAR-OLD ROSA AND HER FAMILY

ARE MAKING THEIR OWN WAY TO THE

U.S.

THEY LEFT VENEZUELA IN SEPTEMBER

OF 2023, TRAVERSING THE DEADLY

AND DANGEROUS DARIEN GAP INTO

CENTRAL AMERICA.

ROSA: WE SAW HORRIBLE THINGS,

DEAD WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND WE

WORRIED CONSTANTLY ABOUT WHAT

COULD HAPPEN TO OUR CHILDREN, IF

THE RIVER WOULD TAKE THEM, IF

THEY WOULD DEHYDRATE, IF THEY

WOULD SUFFER FROM MALNUTRITION

BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH

FOOD, OR IF THEY WOULD NEED

MEDICATION.

AMNA: 32-YEAR-OLD MERLIN, A

FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, SAYS

SHE FLED POLITICAL PERSECUTION.

SHE AND THE OTHER MOTHERS BANDED

TOGETHER TO GET THEIR FAMILIES

TO THE UNITED STATES.

MERLIN: SOME BROUGHT TENTS, SOME

BROUGHT MEDICINE, WE ORGANIZED

EVERYTHING.

WE ARE A TOTAL OF 16 PEOPLE,

FIVE MOTHERS ALL TRAVELING

TOGETHER WITH OUR CHILDREN AND

WE SHARE EVERYTHING AND WE HELP

EACH OTHER ALONG THE WAY.

ROSA: SOMETIMES WE WOULD RUN OUT

OF EVERYTHING AND HAVE TO GO

WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER.

IF ALL WE HAD WAS A PIECE OF

BREAD, THEN WE MADE SURE ALL OF

THE CHILDREN ATE SO THEY WOULD

SURVIVE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AS

STRONG AS WE ARE.

AMNA: IN MEXICO, THEY'VE ENTERED

A SO-CALLED "CONTAINMENT ZONE"

SET UP BY MEXICAN OFFICIALS

UNDER U.S. PRESSURE.

CHECKPOINTS PEPPER THE ROADS.

MIGRANTS WITHOUT PAPERWORK CAN

BE DETAINED.

EVEN THOSE WHO MAKE IT TO

MEXICO'S NORTH CAN BE BUSED OR

FLOWN BACK TO THE SOUTH

, AN EFFORT TO ALLEVIATE

PRESSURE AT THE U.S. MEXICO

BORDER.

-- U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.

NEAR THE RIVER BANK, ROSA,

MERLIN, AND THEIR FAMILIES WAIT

TO BOARD A BUS PROVIDED BY

MEXICAN IMMIGRATION.

THERE'S NO SHARED SCHEDULE,

TIMING, OR FINAL DESTINATION.

U.S. OFFICIALS TELL NEWSHOUR

THIS UNPREDICTABLE EFFORT AIMS

TO MOVE MIGRANTS FROM DENSE

CITIES INTO LESS-POPULATED

AREAS, AND KEEPS THEM IN

SOUTHERN MEXICO.

BUT THAT HASN'T STOPPED THE FLOW

OF MIGRANTS.

THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT

NUMBERS.

BUT SOME OFFICIALS AND NGO'S

ESTIMATE BETWEEN 4000 AND 6000

MIGRANTS ARRIVE DAILY.

ROUGHLY HALF ARE PROCESSED BY

MEXICO'S REFUGEE AGENCY, KNOWN

AS COMAR.

THE OTHER HALF ARE ENTERING

UNDER THE RADAR AND NOT

REGISTERING.

NEWSHOUR'S REPEATED REQUESTS FOR

AN INTERVIEW WITH A COMAR

OFFICIAL WERE DENIED, CITING

ELECTION SEASON RESTRICTIONS.

MERLIN SAYS THEY KNEW MEXICO

WOULD BE THE TOUGHEST PART OF

THE JOURNEY, BUT THEY'RE NOT

DETERRED.

MERLIN: WE ARE HEADING OUT NOW.

WE HAVE HIGH HOPES AND WE ARE

EXCITED TO MOVE AHEAD IN OUR

JOURNEY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE

TAKING US BUT WE'RE GOING TO

STAY POSITIVE.

SAM: -- AMNA: AFTER SEVERAL DAYS

WALKING AND BUSING THROUGH

MEXICO, ROSA, MERLIN, AND FAMILY

ARRIVED IN MEXICO CITY MORE THAN

SIX MONTHS AFTER THEY LEFT

VENEZUELA.

FROM HERE, THEY PLAN TO TRY AND

GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH U.S.

IMMIGRATION THROUGH THE CBP-ONE

APP, A LEGAL ROUTE FOR ASYLUM

SEEKERS BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO

THE BORDER.

IT'S AT THIS POINT IN THE

JOURNEY THAT COUNTLESS FAMILIES

GET CLOSE ONLY TO GET STUCK.

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET AN

APPOINTMENT YET.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRYING

?

>> NO, WE'VE BEEN TRYING FOR AN

APPOINTMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AMNA: JUAN AND ROCIO HAVE SPENT

NEARLY TWO MONTHS AT THIS

SHELTER ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO

BORDER WITH THEIR FIVE KIDS.

CARTEL VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOME

STATE OF GUERRERO HAS PARALYZED

A ONCE-THRIVING STATE.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE

AHEAD, IF YOU MAKE IT INTO THE

UNITED STATES, WHAT DO YOU WANT

FOR YOUR CHILDREN?

WHAT DOES THAT BETTER THAN LIFE

LOOK LIKE?

>> I WANT MY CHILDREN TO DO

WELL, TO GO TO SCHOOL AND BE

SOMEONE IN LIFE.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO LIVE IN

FEAR.

AMNA: SUSANA HURTADO ROCHIN IS A

PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR SAVE THE

CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF SONORA,

ON THE BORDER WITH ARIZONA.

FOR MANY OF THE CHILDREN THAT

COME THROUGH HERE, THE JOURNEYS

THAT THEY HAVE MADE ARE

UNIMAGINABLE.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THAT KIND

OF JOURNEY ON A CHILD?

WHAT DOES IT DO TO THEM?

SUSANA: BOTH ADULTS AND

CHILDREN, ARRIVE WITH MIXED

EMOTIONS.

THEY ARRIVE WITH AN IDEA OF

GETTING TO THE BORDER AND

CROSSING RIGHT AWAY INTO THE

UNITED STATES AND THEN THEY GET

HERE AND THEY'RE STUCK AND

THEY'RE CONFLICTED ABOUT BEING

SO CLOSE BUT YET SO FAR AWAY AT

THE SAME TIME.

SAVE THE CHILDREN WORKS DIRECTLY

-- AMNA: SAVE THE CHILDREN WORKS

DIRECTLY IN SHELTERS ACROSS THE

U.S.-MEXICO BORDER, SETTING UP

CHILD FRIENDLY, SAFE SPACES.

>> THE GOAL IS TO GIVE THEM A

SENSATION OF TAKING BACK CONTROL

OF THEIR LIVES AND NOT LIVING IN

STANDBY MODE.

SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE WITH

THEIR LIVES, MEET PEOPLE, MAKE

FRIENDS AND TO DO IT ALL IN A

PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE TO

EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS AND SPEAK

ABOUT THEIR EMOTIONS.

AMNA: SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CARELY AND

HER SISTER, 11-YEAR-OLD CITLALI

ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR LIFE

IN THE U.S.

CARELY: I JUST KNOW ONE THING IN

ENGLISH.

YOU'RE MY BABY.

AMNA: YOU'RE MY BABY, OOOH!

THEY TELL US THEY PREFER LIFE IN

THE SHELTER TO LIFE BACK HOME.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BEING

HERE, ABOUT STAYING HERE?

CARELY: I LIKE THE GAMES.

AMNA: THE GAMES.

CARELY: WHAT I LIKE BEST IS

BEING WITH MY FAMILY.

AMNA: THEIR PARENTS, JUAN AND

ROCIO, SAY THEY'LL WAIT AS LONG

AS IT TAKES TO GET AN

APPOINTMENT AND ENTER THE U.S.

LEGALLY.

THE BORDER CROSSING IS JUST A

FEW MILES AWAY, BUT FOR THIS

FAMILY, CLOSE ENOUGH IS GOOD

ENOUGH, FOR NOW.

WE'LL HAVE A SECOND REPORT

TOMORROW FROM THE U.S.-MEXICO

BORDER IN ARIZONA ON WHAT

ASYLUM-SEEKERS FACE WHEN THEY

CROSS THE BORDER, AND HOW U.S.

IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS ARE COPING

WITH IT ALL.