An undocumented girl sees the mom for the primary time in 17 years
El Paso | Seventeen years have handed since they final met. Final Saturday, a Mexican with out standing in the US had the appropriate to hug her mom for some time in the course of the river separating the 2 international locations.
On the north shore of the Rio Grande, Alicia Castagnón was struggling to include her nervousness. From her tenting chair, she may see her mom, Modesta Rios, on the south shore, solely twenty yards away.
“I’ve to be robust for her, as a result of she’s all the time been so courageous for us,” says the 41-year-old, her make-up eyes already pink with emotion.
Between the swampy banks barely flows the river that marks the border between Mexico and the US. This river that Alicia has not been in a position to cross to go see her beloved mom for 17 years, since she has no papers to return to the US, the place she lives.
If the housekeeper has the extraordinary proper to seek out her between the 2 international locations on Saturday, it’s because of the Human Rights Frontier Community, which is in 10 years.H Version of “Hugs Not Partitions”.
inhumane insurance policies
“It’s an occasion full of affection and humanity, but in addition a protest in opposition to these inhumane insurance policies,” defined its director, Fernando García.
Below the watchful eye of border patrols, volunteers have been allowed to erect a short lived wood platform connecting the 2 international locations, the place 150 households have been reunited.
So as to not confuse anybody’s immigration standing, members from the American aspect wore yellow and people on the Mexican aspect wore blue.
Nora T. Lamontagne/JdeM
Households collect beneath the blazing solar in the course of the Rio Grande River that separates the US from Mexico.
Alicia measured the time she spent from afar ready her flip.
she stated to register in Spanish.
The 60-year-old traveled by bus 10 hours from Torreon, Mexico, to get there.
6 minutes is simply too quick
When it was lastly their flip, the volunteers helped her down the inclined platform.
The 2 ladies embraced with their eyes closed. They tried to offer one another hugs to exchange all of the individuals they couldn’t give one another over the previous 17 years.
Throughout them, individuals have been taking footage and attending to know grandchildren or nephews and nieces they hadn’t met earlier than.
Nora T. Lamontagne/JdeM
The morning led to a reunion transition between households dwelling within the US with out papers (yellow shirts) and people in Mexico (blue shirts).
Then, 4 minutes later, one of many organizers interrupted the second. “Two minutes left… It’s time to say goodbye,” she stated into the microphone.
Households are sadly separated, caught within the actuality of boundaries that stop them from coming collectively.
Alicia wiped a tear as she returned to the American aspect.
“I cried extra! Nevertheless it’s as if I recharged my batteries, ”she confirms with a tragic smile of Mexican origin, who doesn’t know if and when she is going to see her mom subsequent time.
