Title 42, the pandemic-era health policy officials used almost three million times to expel asylum-seeking migrants in 2022, has caused a bottleneck of confused people who formed lines along the US border wall, waiting to present themselves at a legal point of entry. On the Juarez streets or in shelters, they face the threat of extortion, kidnapping, trafficking, and sexual assault. Now, those in search of safety face more danger.
In the early morning hours of New Year’s Day, gunmen stormed the Cereso No. 3 state prison in the city of Juarez. In the riots that broke out between rival groups, 30 inmates escaped, and 17 people, mostly guards were killed. Gun battles spilled out into the streets, where city police were attacked, and the National Guard was called in. Now, many people are afraid to leave their homes. Those without homes are more vulnerable.
As the number of migrants waiting at the border skyrockets, human smuggling has become more profitable than drug smuggling. “A migrant is worth more than a kilo of cocaine,” boasted a smuggler working for the Juarez Cartel, the local cartel in Ciudad Juarez.
Many of those waiting to present themselves to Customs and Border Patrol have fled violence at home. This violence can reach them in Juarez through gang networks. Some people, especially those waiting on the streets, will invariably hand themselves over to smugglers and an uncertain fate.
Preemptive Love is responding by helping asylum seekers who are currently sleeping outdoors in freezing temperatures in Juarez. You can provide hot meals and bottles of water, hygiene kits, blankets, and support local shelters to bring people into warmth.
You can help. Give today to stand with our friends fleeing violence.
