The announcement of the end of Title 42, the law enacted by former President Donald Trump’s administration during the pandemic that allowed hot withdrawals across borders, left some 15,000 people in the region “expected to cross into US territory, and the vast majority on the streets”. or sleep in overcrowded shelters.
“The situation may be very serious, we can say that there are about 4,000 girls and boys who are exposed to significant risks such as violence, abuse, serious effects on their physical and mental health and even family separation (…) are desperate and many of them may be prepared to risk their lives trying to cross the border through dangerous points such as the desert or the Rio Grande,” Maripina Menendez, director of Save the Children in Mexico, said in a statement. said in the statement.
Save the Children has maintained that exposure to these risks increases “anxiety, fear and uncertainty”, feelings that are exacerbated by doubts about their future and after fleeing poverty and violence in their countries of origin. Are.
“The truth is that it saddens me to know that we cannot try to cross, now with the application (CBP One) we hope to enter in a good way, but the process is very slow and unclear, I Try not to tell my kids anything, but if they look at me and look so sad. They’re sad to know we’ve been here a long time. It’s unfair they look at us like criminals now , We only want the safety of our children.” 29-year-old Susana from Venezuela told the NGO.
Menendez has explained how the organization has seen a return of migrants to Mexican territory, and has expressed concern about the “neglect” of children due to “high stress” suffered by parents, and the presence of mafias in the area. Reported that the purpose is to “bribe” or “recruit” expatriates.
The organization calls on the Mexican government to “strengthen internal programs and policies to protect children and adolescents” and ensure that they have a “significant responsibility” with respect to guaranteeing the human rights of all migrants arriving in the region.
