A new group comprised of 60 Mexican immigrants was detained on Sunday, March 16 as they attempted to cross into American soil from the entry port in Tijuana, in another one of the actions carried out last week to protest immigration policies in the U.S.
This is the third group in seven days that has attempted to enter the United States via the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego, California, with the intention of asking for asylum in the country to be able to reunite with their families.
Last Thursday 13, various young immigrants entered American soil from the Otay Mesa Port of Entry after being deported and torn away from the families by immigration authorities, in a protest organized by the National Immigrant Youth Alliance, which started on July, 2013 and which includes border crossings in Texas and Arizona, according to Reuters.
According to a report by the Associated Press, quoted by The Washington Post, the group was led by two young sisters, whose parents live in North Carolina, and various sympathizers were present with signs which read "Undocumented Unashamed" and "Immigration Reform Starts Here".
Just like the two other groups which recently illegally entered the United States through Otay Mesa, the 60 immigrants protested the rising number of deportations during the administration of President Barack Obama.
Jacqueline and Marisol Aparicio, 11 and 12 years old respectively, led the group of 60 people who hope to get asylum or humanitarian visas. The sisters told the news agency that they expect to meet with their parents, who they haven't seen in 10 years, since they have been raised by an aunt while their parents work in the US.
"We've never seen our parents. They have been in North Carolina for 11 years. My sister and I want to meet with them, that's why we're here," shared Jacqueline Aparicio.
All the people who have entered through ports of entry, 35 on March 10, another 35 on March 13, have been detained and started a long legal process. All the people who request asylum will be interviewed by American authorities who will determine if they are set free or deported to Mexico again.