Tired but smiling, an immigrant father with a toddler strapped to his back gathers his family for a selfie to celebrate illegally crossing the border into the US in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Behind him, hundreds of other asylum seekers who had made it with them on Tuesday crashed behind him, next to the razor-wire fence of the border.
The southwestern border has been cordoned off, with more than 10,000 people a day handing themselves in to officials for processing.
And there’s no end in sight as the hordes keep coming, with Costa Rica declaring a state of emergency this week as thousands of migrants flood the country’s borders heading north to the US.
Here The Post offers a rare first-hand account through the eyes of a witness on the front lines of the border crisis that follows the selfie-taking father’s journey as he makes the final push to cross the Rio Grande River to reach the US. This is his account:
I joined a group of mostly Venezuelans after they made their way to the border by hiding on a chartered cargo through northern Mexico.
They were battered by the wind and the elements and, as the train did not stop for several hours, had little opportunity to eat or drink.
The Post reported first-hand the crossing of the border with a caravan of migrants. James KeivomMigrants cross the Rio Grande River from Piedras Negras, Mexico.James Keivom No one crosses a certain part of the border without the cartels’ permission. James Keivom Ropes were used to help lead migrants through the fast flowing waters.James Keivom
As the sun set over the Rio Grande, we could see Eagle Pass, Texas, to the north. I was accompanied by a local who knew Piedras Negras, Mexico.
From the railroad tracks, it’s an arduous 15 miles over rough terrain to the US-Mexico border for the migrants, who range in age from the elderly to children. Some barely had shoes, worn out from the hundreds of miles they had walked.
Once they reached the river, the smugglers were waiting. The migrants know they have to pay the cartels to be allowed to cross the river, because no one crosses without their permission.
A father hugs his daughter as they walk along the banks of the RIo Grande.James KeivomCBP patrol boats guide migrants to safer waters.James KeivomMigrants wait to be admitted to the United States after crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico.James Keivom
Money changes hands, but the transactions are done carefully, so it’s hard to say how much. The trafficker was aware that US journalists were documenting the crossing, but did not threaten anyone and instead simply asked not to be photographed.
The smugglers separated everyone into groups of 50 to 100. They then staggered, telling them when to cross.
Everyone waits their turn, following the instructions of the smuggler, one of whom acts as a guide, goes into the water and tests the route along the river bed to make sure it is passable.
When migrants are in freezing water, they are instructed to hold on to ropes to help stabilize them.
Some are caught off guard when they enter the rushing water and take a few uncomfortable steps, trying to balance.
Most people held on to the rope for dear life where they could, and others held hands — hoping to stabilize themselves better during the crossing.
A family arrives on the banks of the Rio Grande River in the US.James KeivomA baby drinks water after they crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico.James KeivomThe surge in immigrants has overwhelmed the US’s ability to take in immigrants and decide who has a legal basis to stay in the country and who does not. no.James KeivomMigrants wait to be admitted to the United States after crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico.James Keivom
Most of those in the water were families — sometimes women with children traveling alone. Most parents put their children on their shoulders to try to keep them completely out of the water.
Even among adults, most of them are not strong swimmers, but are already used to water.
A mother holds her baby wrapped in a blanket close to her chest, with only the baby’s bald head visible near his face. A little girl is put in an orange and lime green inflatable to cross.
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The smuggler drove back and forth across the river several times, helping his cargo – mainly old people and children – across. The water was very strong, especially for those carrying babies, and there was a lot of screaming.
We could hear the coyote telling the migrants, “Don’t worry, it’s nothing. Nothing happened here.”
The Rio Grande current is notorious for washing away small children — ripping them from their parents’ arms.
In just one week in 2022, two children drowned and a third were rescued from the water.
Many immigrants do not fully understand what they are getting into.
Recently, the bodies of two migrants including a 3-year-old boy were pulled from a river north of Eagle Pass, Texas.
Even with a relatively tame current, the force of water alone affects the human body. The day after crossing, I had pain in my hands and feet. Difficult to move.
Those who crossed the river on Tuesday had to wait in the water on the other side of the bank for at least four hours.
After that, they were finally allowed to walk up the cliff and surrender to the US Border Patrol, where I had to go.
The massive surge in immigration has overwhelmed the US’s ability to effectively take in and process people and decide who has a legal basis to stay in the country and who should be removed.
Border cities like Eagle Pass and El Paso have said they are at their “breaking point.”
The latter showed more than 7,000 people in Customs and Border Patrol custody on Wednesday, exceeding capacity.
Migrants rest on a riverbank as they wait to be admitted on the US side.James KeivomMigrants are detained by US Customs and Border Protection officials.James KeivomThe Rio Grande current is notorious for sweeping away small children – ripping them from their parents’ arms. James Keivom
As things worsen in South America, with drug cartels moving in and economic decline, more people than ever are moving north.
Costa Rica’s state of emergency occurred when 84,490 people entered the country from the south in August alone, according to CNN.
Another 60,000 have passed through this month – filling the country’s refugee camps.
Those detained by the Border Patrol on Tuesday will be held while their asylum claims are evaluated to see if they meet the threshold. Anyone who is not will be deported back to their country of origin or returned to Mexico.
Those who were allowed to stay in the US to further pursue their claims were given a court date in their chosen destination and released.
In most cases, it will be years before they see a judge or present their case, by which time they will likely have settled in the US.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
