How do Russian-speaking migrants live who are seeking asylum on the Mexican border

In addition to refugees from the countries of South and Central America, people from former Soviet countries often come to the Mexican border to seek asylum. Voice of America We talked to Russian-speaking migrants and asked them about how they were seeking asylum.

Фото: Depositphotos

Igor and his family came to Mexico from Russia, he says that they were in danger at home, and he went to storm the American border, like millions of immigrants from all over the world.

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“We chose where to go. If this is California, then the closest ones are Tijuana or Calexica (border cities in Mexico - ed.). There was already a catastrophic situation in Tijuana, there was already a caravan, there was a long line, so we chose Calexica,” says Igor.

For a month they lived in Mexico and waited for their turn to cross the border. Igor says that he knew what he was doing, and therefore did not expect any favors from border officers.

“Some people amazed me. There was a feeling that they thought that someone was waiting for them, especially since there are now anti-immigration policies here,” he notes.

Igor says that every night officers brought people to the temporary detention center who were literally removed from the border fences - these were immigrants from Latin America who were trying to storm the American border.

But in the border centers there are a lot of Russian-speaking migrants.

“There were a lot of Russian speakers from Armenia,” Igor recalls.

Igor was lucky, they believed him and let him in the USA. Now his case is pending in court.

Also in the court under consideration is the case of the Ukrainian Alexander, who tried to get into the United States with his wife and children. The Mexican military almost turned them back to their homeland.

“You can't understand the Mexican military. They are either military or bandits. They seem to have weapons, but they are not dressed in uniform: in slippers, in shorts. We went through about seven checks,” recalls Alexander.

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At the border, all documents were confiscated from him and his family members. After several days in a temporary detention center, they were let in to the USA. Now Alexander lives with his family in a shelter.

“They feed us, give us the necessary clothes, all household supplies, there are washing machines and washing powder. Help is provided. And most importantly, they feed us,” says Alexander.

Sergei works as a volunteer in San Diego and helps migrants like Alexander. Sergey is a biochemist and works on a vaccine against HIV, and in his free time he supports newly arrived emigrants from different countries.

“I never ask whether someone has documents or not, where they came from, why they are here. If people need help, they are here alone and don’t know where to turn, then we provide first aid,” says Sergei.

In Russian-speaking groups, disputes often flare up. According to Sergey, unlike Spanish-speaking migrants, Russian-speaking people are less likely to help their countrymen.

“In general, the community takes the following position: “Why did they come here? They should have known where they were going." The families we helped never asked us to do it. I or other volunteers asked them what they needed to survive? People are very proud, it’s hard for them. At home they were someone, but here they were left completely without rights and without money,” says Sergei.

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Another misfortune of the Russian-speaking community, according to Sergey, is the creation of special communities by those who have already passed or intend to pass the American border.

“There are a lot of groups on social networks that tell stories about how everything is fine here, but unfortunately, they also discuss how to deceive the US government, what to say to officers. People read these communities, come, but in reality everything turns out to be wrong. And they find themselves in a difficult situation,” says Sergei.

Igor and Alexander are waiting for a subpoena, where they will prove that they are in danger at home. In the event of refusal of asylum, they and their families will be deported to their homeland. Men say that they have gone all this difficult way not for a better life, but for the safety of their children.

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