Russian and Ukrainian families arrive in Tijuana to seek asylum in the US.

families of Russia and Ukraine who have seen their lives exposed by the war between their countries, are constantly arriving in large numbers to the Mexican border city of Tijuana to request political asylum in the United States.

Mexican authorities from the National Institute of Migration (INM) confirmed that since the beginning of the invasion last February, they have detected an increase in the arrival of people from these countries to Tijuana of up to 20 people daily.

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Claudia Pérez, a Mexican migration agent, revealed that they are mostly immigrants of Russian origin, but now more families are beginning to arrive from Ukraine.

“They arrive and request their legal stay in Mexicowe offer them hostels but they don’t want them, they stay in hotels and move on their own”, the official indicated.

A group of families from Russia and Ukraine wait to apply for Political Asylum today, at the San Ysidro port of entry, on the border with the United States, in the city of Tijuana, state of Baja California (Mexico). (EFE / Joebeth Terriquez). (Joebeth Terriquez/)

This Friday, a group of 17 people, including two families from Ukraineone of Russia and a couple from Belarus arrived at the San Ysidro border port to apply for asylum in the United States, but agents from the Office of Border Protection (CBP) prevented them from entering.

One of the Ukrainian immigrants told Efe that she arrived in Mexico in early March with her entire family.

He recounted that he had to travel from his home to Russia, where they took a flight to the Mexican city of Cancun, where they bought cars to move to Tijuana, a journey that lasted 10 days.

A girl, part of the group of families from Russia and Ukraine waiting to apply for Political Asylum, reacts while waiting at the San Ysidro port of entry, to try to enter the United States, in the city of Tijuana, state of Baja California (Mexico). (EFE/Joebeth Terriquez). (Joebeth Terriquez/)

“The people of my country are taking advantage of the fact that there is a direct flight to Cancun, they also arrive at Mexico City”, said the woman, adding that although they are long trips “They are worth it to be able to protect our lives.”

Andrii, another Ukrainian immigrant who arrived with his wife and two young daughters, shared that although they lived happily and did not think anything would happen to them, “My friends and neighbors started to leave the city, and one day a bomb fell 300 meters from our home and we decided to go to Europe and then to Mexico”.

A woman from Ukraine stands at the border with her fiancé from the United States while waiting to apply for asylum, in Tijuana, Mexico. (Photo: AP/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/)

HELP IN MEXICO

The binational organization Al Otro Lado has been in charge of providing advice and support to families arriving in Tijuana.

Jeen Jude, a lawyer for the association, said that they do not question the people who arrive, “we only help them prepare their asylum applications and accompany them to the sentry box.”

Jude confirmed that some families have managed to enter the United States to present their cases and request political asylum, although others have had to wait because the spaces are saturated and there is still no clear action by the US government for humanitarian entry. of these people.

A Ukrainian woman hugs her boyfriend as he waits for a humanitarian visa outside the San Ysidro port of entry on the US-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico. (REUTERS/Jorge Duenes). (JORGE DUENES/)

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Source: Elcomercio