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There were very emotional moments for the 9 people in court today. All told Judge Nathan Herbert that they were afraid to return to Mexico; he told each that they would get a hearing with an asylum officer before being returned to Mexico. 5/
A 43-year-old Guatemalan woman named Aleida told Judge Herbert that she had been separated from her two grandchildren, who she has raised since they were babies, when they crossed the border. She was sent to Mexico and the children sent to U.S. shelters. She sobbed heavily. 6/
Aleida told the judge, "A pastor (in Ciudad Juarez) opened his house to us and he was kidnapped." She said she fears being kidnapped if she is sent back. Kidnappings at church shelters have been a common theme in MPP hearings. 7/
A 21-year-old Salvadoran woman told Judge Herbert: "I was on my way to the store when men in a car tried to take me." That's been another common theme at MPP hearings in El Paso: people facing kidnapping when they leave shelters to buy food or supplies. 8/
At every rights advisal, Judge Herbert tells migrants to call pro bono lawyers on a court-provided list. Rosa, a 24-year-old Guatemalan, asked Judge Herbert, "How would I communicate with them?" Many migrants sent back to Ciudad Juarez don't have access to phones. 9/
Back to the pregnant women. It's unclear what will happen to them once they're out of MPP. Because they're single adults, they could be taken into ICE custody. Or they could be released to @AHouseElPaso, which would connect them with families. 10/
I tweeted yesterday about being barred from watching immigration court hearings because all courtroom seats were taken by migrant respondents. Because only 9 migrants were at today's hearing, several media and NGO representatives were allowed to view the proceedings. 11/
Court officials reiterated, however, that large groups of respondents will be the norm at future MPP hearings, so media and other observers likely will be kept out. I asked for permission to address the judge on this issue, but my request was denied by court officials. 12/
Final thoughts on pregnant women. MPP guidelines exempt "vulnerable" populations and people with known physical/mental health conditions. DHS hasn't responded whether pregnant women are considered vulnerable or whether pregnancy is considered a health condition. 13/
Customs and Border Protection officers at ports of entry (blue shirts) have exempted pregnant women from metering, which limits the number of people who can approach a port of entry to request asylum. Pregnant women go to the front of the line. 14/
Border Patrol agents (green shirts) who are part of CBP have been sending pregnant women back to Juarez as part of MPP. I'm not sure why the disparate treatment of pregnant women by the same agency. 15/
I cannot imagine the horrible sorrow of these women, and the nightmare for all. There will be an entire generation of emotionally harmed children from this genocide, ad always. We need a #nationalstrike
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