More than 2,500 asylum-seekers are living in a state of intense danger in Matamoros, Mexico. Many of the most vulnerable people fleeing danger and persecution in Central America and the Caribbean end up in Matamoros because of the widespread belief that the crossing at that point is relatively easier than desert ports of entry. The majority of people waiting at this makeshift refugee camp are single mothers with multiple young children seeking to reunite with their extended family in the United States. In addition to this population of families, there are hundreds of unaccompanied teenagers living in the shadows of the camp and the city, permanently in hiding because there are threats to their safety–from organized crime cartels that are prevalent in Matamoros, as well as from general violence against migrants. These families and youth lack access to basic services such as shelter, sanitation, food, water, education, etc. and suffer from disease and ongoing violence. More than 100 new migrants arrive each day and are forced to remain (potentially for up to two years pursuant to new US government policies). Grassroots groups in the area are the only organizations currently providing support, but their resources are limited and they are overwhelmed by the growing scope of this crisis.
Read more at https://www.projectadelante.org