Demonstration in Nogales for migrants seeking asylum

Activists say no migrants have been granted asylum since start of pandemic

NOGALES TODAY.

AS NINE ON YOURSIDE'S ROGELIO MARES REPORTS-- THEY'RE DEMADING ACTIONFROM THE U- S GOVERNMENT.WE'RE OUT HERE TODAY TO DEFENDMIGRANTS RIGHTS TO ASYLUM.03SEC SEPARATED BY A BORDER,THE MESSAGE IS THE SAME ONBOTH SIDES: GIVE THEM ASYLUMNOW!

SOT UNDER THE GUISE OFPUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS,BASED ON THE COVID-19PANDEMIC, THE BORDER HASESSENTIALLY BEEN SHUT.

07SECTHAT'S WHY THESE ACTIVISTS,JOINED BY ALEXANDRA MILLER, ANIMMIGRATION ATTORNEY, CAME TOTHIS PART OF THE BORDER INNOGALES.

SOT OVER THE PAST FEWMONTHS I'VE CONTINUED TOATTEMPT TO ACCOMPANY MIGRANTSAT THE BORDER.

06SEC MILLERSAYS SHE'LL GO INTO MEXICO ANDACCOMPANY MIGRANTS, SOMEWHO'VE TRAVELED FROM ACROSSOCEANS, THROUGH SEVERALCOUNTRIES TO THIS CHECKPOINT.HERE, SHE SAYS, THEY'LL ARRIVEAT A MOMENT OF TRUTH: THEYEITHER GET ASYLUM IN THE U-SOR NOT.

MILLER TOLD ME, SINCETHE PANDEMIC STARTED, THEANSWER FROM CUSTOMS AND BORDERPATROL AGENTS HAS BEEN A FIRM:NO.

SOT THEY TELL US THAT NOEXCEPTIONS CAN BE MADE.

03SECMILLER AND OTHER ACTIVISTSCONTEND THE U-S CAN OFFERPROTECTION TO THESE MIGRANTSAND STILL KEEP AMERICANS SAFE.SOT THERE ARE WAYS TO PROTECTOUR PUBLIC HEALTH WITHOUTINFRINGING ON THE RIGHTS OFMIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS.08SEC THIS WOMAN, WHO TRAVELEDFROM SOUTHERN MEXICO, SAIDSHE'S FLEEING CARTEL VIOLENCEAFTER THEY TARGETED HER HOME.SHE SAYS SHE CAME IN MARCHBEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

ANOTHERMIGRANT FROM GUATEMALA SAYSSHE'S BEEN TRYING TO SEEKASYLUM SINCE FEBRUARY.

THEMEXICAN WOMAN SAYS SHE CAMEHERE WITH HER YOUNG SON.

THEWOMAN FROM GUATEMALA SAYS SHECAME WITH HER HUSBAND AND TWOCHILDREN.

FOR THEIR PART, U-SCUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL SAYSILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONTINUESDESPITE THE PANDEMIC.

AT APRESS CONFERENCE EARLIERTODAY, C-B- P COMMISSIONERMARK MORGAN REITERATED THEAGENCY'S POLICY OF SUSPENDINGASYLUM PROCESSING AS A MEASURETO PROTECT AMERICANS.

SOTMIGRANTS CONTINUE TO IGNORETHEIR COUNTRY'S 'STAY-AT-HOME' GUIDANCE AS WELL ASTHEY CONTINUE TO IGNORE THEGUIDANCE OF GLOBAL MEDICALEXPERTS.

ROGELIO MARES KGUN9ON YOUR SIDE.