Multimedia Newsroom
Monday, 22 February 2021
Available in
  • ENG

  • Separated at the US Border

    Clip Reel
    Duration : 7m 46s
    Video (no subtitles, 562.5 MB )
    The administration of United States President Joe Biden should move swiftly to ensure fair, dignified and humane treatment of asylum seekers and migrants at the border, Human Rights Watch and the Iowa City Catholic Worker said in a video released today. The video follows a family still separated after almost two years under the “Remain in Mexico” program, also known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). The administration of former President Donald Trump sent over 71,000 asylum seekers back to Mexico under MPP, adopted in 2019. President Biden ended the returns last month. Some asylum seekers sent to wait in Mexico with active cases in immigration courts may sign up to start a process to enter the US as of February 19, 2021, according to a Department of Homeland Security announcement. The new video follows one family from El Salvador – Alejandro, Juliza and their infant son, Anderson – who were separated at the border in 2019. US officials forced Alejandro to wait in Mexico while eight-months pregnant Juliza continued alone to claim asylum in the United States, where she was welcomed by the Iowa City Catholic Worker, a Gamaliel affiliate. Returned to one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico, Alejandro was kidnapped and abused, treatment that has become very common for migrants and asylum seekers in Mexico.
    Videos (1)
    202102US RemaininMexico finalfinal
    Feature
    8m 10s