In Rio Grande Valley, migrant girl is found alone

(23 Mar 2021) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4317199

DESPITE THE DANGERS SHE'S FACED,  A CONFIDENT SEVEN YEAR OLD GIRL BRISKLY WALKS UP THE ACCESS ROADS FROM THE RIO GRANDE…JOINED BY TWO OTHER ASYLUM SEEKERS SHE JUST MET.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Fernanda Solis, Asylum Seeker:
"I found this girl. She was coming alone."
IT'S AROUND TWO IN THE MORNING ON SUNDAY,  SOMEWHERE IN MISSION, TEXAS, A HOT SPOT FOR MIGRANTS ILLEGALLY CROSSING THE BORDER.
THE LITTLE GIRL IS HOPING TO GAIN ASYLUM IN TO THE United States… THE WOMAN WHO OFFERED TO ACCOMPANY HER TOLD US MORE—
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Fernanda Solis, Asylum Seeker:
"The girl told me they had tried to cross but they were returned. This time around, he just sent the girl for her to turn herself in."
THE GIRL'S FATHER MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION AND STAYED BEHIND IN MEXICO.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Girl:  
"He just said to go on my own and take care of myself."
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS NOT EXPELLING CHILDREN WHO ARRIVE WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS..
<NATS OF walking>
MIGRANTS AND ADVOCATES SAY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARE SENDING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OLDER THAN SIX BACK OVER THE BORDER, UNDER PANDEMIC RELATED POWERS ENACTED UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION…
JENNIFER HARBURY A HUMANS RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND ATTORNEY IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY SAYS THOSE MIGRANTS ARE BEING PUT IN GRAVE DANGER —
SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Harbury, Human Rights Activist:
"Basically this area is so hard hit by the drug war, it's one of the most dangerous areas anywhere. The US State Dept has it pegged as a category four that's the same as Afghanistan or Iraq."
IN REYNOSA, MEXICO SOME OF THOSE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT SIT AND WAIT ON THE STREET.  
UNDER A GAZEBO AT A PARK, DOZENS OF MIGRANTS FAMILY MAINLY FROM HONDURAS LIE ON THE CONCRETE. MANY OF THEM RECENTLY EXPELLED, WAITING TO ALLOWED BACK IN OR FIGURING OUT HOW TO GO HOME.
JEYDY OSEGUERA IS A MOTHER OF AN EIGHT YEAR OLD BOY, SHE'S ALSO THREE MONTHS PREGNANT.  
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jedy Oseguera, Asylum Seeker:
"Border Patrol told all of us to get in line and they put those with children five and under in a separate area. I told them I was pregnant, but they didn't care."
BLANCA FLOR LOPEZ SAYS HER FAMILY FLED CRIMINAL EXTORTION AND VIOLENCE.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Blanca Flor Lopez, Asylum Seeker:
"We left our country because about five years ago they burned our home. We were all inside. I have proof (showing her arm). I spent months in a hospital."
SHE SHOWED US THE HORRIFIC SCARS FROM THIRD DEGREE BURNS SHE SAYS SHE RECEIVED FROM A HOUSE FIRE STARTED BY GANGSTERS.
ALL OF THESE FAMILIES  SAY THEY MADE A CHOICE TO FLEE IMMINENT DANGER, SOME ARE ALSO FLEEING CRUSHING POVERTY WORSENED BY A PANDEMIC AND TWO DEVASTATING TROPICAL STORMS.
<NATURAL SOUND UP>
ACROSS THE BORDER IN BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS MIGRANTS FRESHLY RELEASED FROM DETENTION AND PROCESSING GET A BRIEF RESPITE BEFORE HEADING OFF TO RECONNECT WITH FAMILY ACROSS THE U-S.
IRMA PAZ, A SCHOOL TEACHER FROM HONDURAS, WADED ACROSS THE RIVER WITH HER FAMILY, THEY FLED VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOMETOWN.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Irma Paz, Asylum Seeker:
"I thought, 'Thank you, my Lord.' We made the cut,"
THE MIGRANTS TRAVELING FROM Central America OFTEN TURN THEMSELVES IN AND WANT TO BE FOUND, BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEKING ASYLUM.
SOME COUNT THEMSELVES LUCKY TO BE ALLOWED INTO THE U-S. AND SO MAY ISIS RODAS, SHE'S HOPING TO RECONNECT WITH FAMILY IN South Carolina. SHE SAYS HER FATHER WAS RETURNING TO HONDURAS.
(Gravel footsteps natural sound up)
JOHN MONE, ASSOCIATED PRESS, MISSION TEXAS.

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