Friend,

You've been hearing about it for weeks on the news and social media: reports that there is a "crisis" on our southern border.

With conflicting information from the media, prominent online voices, and elected officials, we'd like to set the record straight on unaccompanied minors and families arriving at our border...

The current border crossings are a result of seasonal weather patterns plus course-correcting the Trump Administration's expulsions and massive backlog.

Every year around this time, more migrants come to the United States when the weather is good enough to make the treacherous journey. The current numbers are in line with a typical seasonal increase. [link removed] On top of that, we have the migrants that were turned away last year when the Trump Administration implemented harsh policies like Title 42 which prohibited many families from seeking asylum in the U.S..

There is in fact a crisis, but it is NOT at our Southern Border. It is in the regions that these migrants are fleeing from.

For centuries immigrants have been coming to the U.S. for a chance of a better life for themselves and their families because the situations in their home countries are too dangerous and threaten their survival.

For the unaccompanied minors and families that are currently arriving at our southern border, the situation is no different. The majority of immigrants coming to the U.S. are coming from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico where hunger, domestic violence, gang recruitment, and poverty levels are extremely high. Recent natural disasters, such as hurricanes in Central America, have also left communities with no housing and food.

The Republicans' claims that there is a "crisis" at the border is nothing but a divide and distract tactic.
They want to distract voters from their failures in responding to the pandemic in a way that supports American families, and blame children seeking refuge to divide Americans on immigration.

Don't fall for the trap.

We must treat immigrants coming to the United States with dignity and respect. We must also update our immigration system to one that helps instead of criminalizes these families. We can do so by helping the Central American countries immigrants are fleeing from and by passing policies in the U.S. that help the immigrants already at our borders or living in our country.

A fair and humane immigration system IS possible. It is time to make it happen.

Thanks for your support,

Juana

P.S. If you want to help migrants arriving at the border, consider making a donation to Miles 4 Migrants. Miles 4 Migrants is a charity that uses frequent flyer miles, credit card points and donations to help migrants find a safe home. Click here to donate and learn more>> [link removed]

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