Migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.

More than 100 people from Central America have traveled to the Mexican-United States border hoping to seek asylum and challenge the new immigration laws under President Donald Trump.

People from many different parts of Central America have journeyed in caravans to the U.S. border in order to try to receive asylum. According to Homeland Security, this includes people, or refugees, who are unable or unwilling to return to their country because of the fear of persecution for some reason.

The difference between refugees and asylum-seekers is that people seeking asylum are already on U.S. soil and are waiting to receive refugee status, whereas refugees apply to get into the U.S. from another country.

Some people have spent months walking to the border with friends, family, spouses, and children. After waiting at the border for hours, some immigrants are slowly being let into America. This doesn’t guarantee however, that they will gain asylum. In fact, over 70 percent of people apply for asylum are sent back to their home country. This process takes a while though and it could be days until the person knows if they have been granted asylum status or not.

“On one hand, I’m very happy that it’s finally beginning, that perhaps they will start to accept us little by little,” Orfa Marín, a Honduran immigrant, said for the New York Times. “But on the other hand, we have to wait here until it’s our turn.”

One example is Gabriela Hernandez from Honduras who traveled with her two kids, both under the age of ten. During their journey of about 3,000 miles, they suffered hunger, exhaustion, and illness. On Monday April 30, they crossed the border into America, now hoping to be granted asylum. Hernandez is one of many people however who have traveled long distances but unfortunately may not gain asylum status.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Hernandez said in a CNN article. “I cannot go back to my country.”

Others who haven’t had access into the U.S. yet are staying at camps along the border, hoping they will soon enter the country. People are starting to get tired of waiting though, but still are refusing to give up. Many say that they are very afraid of going back to their homes because of violence in their country, so they will do whatever it takes to pursue a safe life for their family and children.

“I can’t take it here [camp near the border] anymore,” Alexandra Mejia, from El Salvador, said for a NBC article. “The nights are too cold and sleeping on the floor is painful. We have to walk a mile to use the bathroom every day at a nearby shelter. I can’t do it any longer.”

If these people eventually get into the U.S., at that time, under law, the U.S. has to consider any asylum cases. If someone is granted this, they will be able to stay in America and after a year, apply for a green card.