Immigrant children waiting in shelters to enter the United States say they want to play – International

Tijuana, Mexico – They do not complain, but if they have a choice, they want to play and learn. Central American and Mexican children immigrating irregularly United States Take a huge burden on their age.

In hostels or in dangerous rental rooms in the northwestern city of Tijuana Mexico, They believe – along with their parents – that the US government will grant them asylum.

A France-Press Agency A central unit spoke with some of these children 32 families are together, Where they receive psychological assistance and participate in drawing and craft workshops.

Born in Honduras, Costa Rica, Daniel, Kenneth, Dionysi, Angie, Taryanci, Jose Isaac and Carla. Redeemer And Mexico and its age will rise like a ladder from the age of 6 to 11, which is clear: they want so much fun.

If you had a choice, what would you like to do?

“Playing ball with my mom,” says Angie, an 8-year-old from Honduras.

Carla, from El Salvador, says the 11-year-old has the energy to “hide and seek, catch, play baseball and basketball.

Even better if you go with your cousins ​​and living uncles Angels, America, I want to be, he says.

Experts and international organizations say the influx of minors crossing the Mexican border into the United States is increasing – even alone – reaching crisis levels.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned last week that the number of children migrating to Mexico has tripled this year, where shelters are overcrowded.

O Mexican President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Said it would strengthen its immigration strategy by establishing 17 new shelters for children, especially along the southern border, the main gateway for undocumented children.

Learn to paint and English

Alison Natalie, a 14-year-old Guatemalan, is autistic and wants to dedicate herself to the play of colors and patterns that painting offers.

Although he may end up living in the United States, he says he’s fine “here in Tijuana.”

His compatriot, 7-year-old Dylan Giovanni, also believes the city is “beautiful” and, incidentally, wants to paint.

Fernanda, a 13-year-old Honduran woman who is more focused on the goal chosen by the family, wants to “learn to speak English”, while 9-year-old Mexican Marie Tere is honest about what she doesn’t know. She wants to do that.

President of the United States, Joe Biden, Hundreds of thousands of immigrants continue to travel to neighboring countries via Mexico, providing them with “more humane” treatment following the harsh policies of their predecessor Donald Trump.

Arrests of undocumented immigrants in the United States increased by 71% in March to 172,300, while the number of unsupported juveniles rose to nearly 19,000, according to the country’s official data. / AFP