In a surprising act, a few hours before Title 42 ends, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offered a “last chance” to the undocumented immigrants who are in the Center, before beginning a “targeted enforcement operation of the law”, to detain and deport migrants.
Without giving it much thought, hundreds of people lined up to register with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) elements and request the documents that allow them to travel to the interior of the country or take temporary refuge in shelters financed by the federal government in El Passed.
On Monday night, CBP announced an operation to detain migrants who crossed illegally and did not request political asylum. To this group belong the majority of the 3,300 who camped outside the Sacred Heart and the Opportunity Center for the Dispossessed (OC).
On Tuesday, in a surprise operation and at dawn, CBP elements in conjunction with the Border Patrol (USBP), arrived at the makeshift camp in the surroundings of the Sacred Heart Church, located in the Segundo Barrio to deliver a flyer, whose message He ordered them to turn themselves in voluntarily on pain of returning to detain and deport them.
“It was something wonderful to be true and the truth was that I could not believe it until I had in my hands the document that will allow me to continue on my path and they welcomed me to enter the United States,” said Nelson, a native of Venezuela, almost through tears. , who, like hundreds of his compatriots, turned himself in to the Border Patrol yesterday Tuesday to regularize his immigration status.
“I thought that if I turned myself in again they were going to deport me, leave me in prison or simply ‘throw’ me back to Mexico, just as they did the first time they expelled me through Nogales,” said the 47-year-old man and father of eight children, after narrating that he was terrified when he woke up and saw the federal agents on top of him.
He, like the hundreds of foreigners, said he was afraid because at first what he thought was to run away… “but praying, asking God, who is the one who always supports me, I called my wife Glorimar and she told me that she always did what I told her, but this time I had to do what she said: ‘She told me to turn yourself in’ and I did so”.
The native and raised in the city of Puerto Cabello, in the Carabobo State of Venezuela, said that what happened early Tuesday morning was a gift from God by giving him an opportunity to continue on his way, heading to Orlando, Florida, where he plans to continue. his political asylum process and work to support his family.
Hundreds on the ‘right track’
During the morning and afternoon of Tuesday, long lines were observed at the CBP facilities, located on Oregon Street, between Novena and Loop 375, right next to the Paso del Norte International Bridge.
Supported by elements of the Police Department (EPPD), Border Patrol and CBP agents gave entry to the immigrants to process their files and grant them the long-awaited form to legalize their stay in the country.
However, during the day, mistrust and uncertainty prevailed among other migrants who did not decide to approach and take advantage of the benefit given by the federal government as a way of extending the olive branch to undocumented immigrants, and as a symbol of peace, going back to Biblical times, ancient Romans and Greek mythology.
The flyer whose text read: “Did you cross the border between the international bridges? If so, have you been processed by Border Patrol agents or any other Customs and Border Protection officer?”
And it added: “All those who need to apply for shelter from the City and County of El Paso or religious organizations, must have been processed by CBP officers.”
“If you have not done so, you should turn yourself in at the nearest station in the Central El Paso area, located at 1101 S. Stanton in El Paso, Texas,” to later emphasize that “they would be processed by police officers at that location. CBP and placed on the correct immigration pathway.”
With this targeted enforcement operation planned, hundreds of immigrants came forward in disbelief to request documents that would allow them to travel or take refuge in El Paso before Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents swung into action to detain and remove them under Title 42 or else place them in removal proceedings under Title 8.
They overcome fear
“I felt very afraid, very afraid. I was asleep on the sidewalk when I woke up and I saw them and I said to myself… they already took us, there’s nothing left here,” said another migrant while holding one of the flyers.
The Venezuelan José Rodríguez was another of the immigrants who after several hours decided to take advantage of the right to temporary protection (TPS) before being surprised in one of the Border Patrol raids.
Some migrants stated that they had the opportunity to ask Catholic priests about the agents’ incursion and they assured them that it was a good opportunity.
Bishop Mark Seitz, of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, counseled the migrants at Sacred Heart, pointing out that the message keeps changing, and that it was normal for them to be distrustful after the sufferings they experienced on their journey.
“I can’t guarantee what will happen, but I think this will be your best chance,” Seitz told the migrants, noting that after May 11, agents won’t be as friendly to those they meet on the streets.
Jessica Montiel was another of the people who was reluctant to believe so much goodness, “I really don’t know what to believe, many say yes, that they will receive us, but the truth is that it scares me and if it turns out that they will return me and my Niño Luis”, he expressed while deciding whether to train or not. In the end she decided to give herself up.
He explained that during his stay in Mexico, more than eight months, he was never able to enter the CBP One application, so when he arrived at the border he decided to enter illegally on Monday night.
“It is a good opportunity for us, many people are on the street and the truth is that it is a lot of suffering and it is time to continue on our way,” said the woman who is preparing to travel to Florida. “I am happy, it was quite an adventure, from going through the historic region of Darién, visiting many countries and arriving in the United States,” said little Luis.
But while the CBP agents processed the hundreds of immigrants at the same time, others turned themselves in to the Border Patrol, through gate 40, in order to enter before the term of Title 42, which expires on May 11 at midnight. .
