Unlawful immigrants sneaking into the U.S. now have a brand new fear: they’re being mugged or sexually assaulted as quickly as they cross the Rio Grande.
Rape and theft have lengthy been part of migrants’ journey via Mexico, however it’s been comparatively much less widespread on the U.S. aspect.
Now, brokers within the Rio Grande Valley space of Texas mentioned they’re all of a sudden listening to these tales from migrants.
In September, greater than 30 migrants throughout 5 separate incidents reported being approached by bandits with knives or bats and being ordered handy over their cash and different belongings. They had been let out after they turned over no matter they’d.
The Border Patrol mentioned it has deployed extra personnel to the world to attempt to catch the bandits.
Brokers additionally mentioned they’re getting extra tales of sexual assault from migrants, each female and male, together with on the U.S. aspect of the border.
They’re occurring at stash homes, the place migrants are stored holed up earlier than smugglers take them deeper into the U.S., or out within the area, as guides lead them into the nation and round Border Patrol checkpoints.
“Some victims reported the sexual assault was perpetrated by their very own foot information, others reported by people encountered within the brush after getting misplaced or separated from their group,” the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley mentioned in a press release describing the brand new stage of violence.
The Border Patrol mentioned the risks are another excuse for migrants to not try the unlawful journey to the U.S.
Risks and violence in the course of the journey via Mexico have lengthy been a fear for migrants.
The prospect of rape is so actual that some girls and ladies report that they begin contraception earlier than the journey, or carry the morning-after tablet with them, to forestall a being pregnant from ensuing.
Originally published at San Diego News HQ
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