The Last Bribe
A family fleeing from the violence of El Salvador or Guatemala or Honduras is risking a difficult journey. They face two thousand miles of walking dusty roads, riding in packed vans and freight cars, staying in dirty “safe” houses; each day being completely vulnerable to violence, rape and extortion. How much are they willing to pay to flee life those countries? The average annual income is a little under $700, yet they are willing to pay from $6000 to $9000 to get to the US. (Want that put into American terms? The average US income is $51000, equivalent costs would be $500,000 to $750,000.)
How do these impoverished people put together ten years or more of wages to get to the US? The New York Times reported how relatives in the US wired money to help at each stage of the journey, demanding Facebook Messenger “proof of life” pictures along the way to make sure the smugglers weren’t collecting without delivering “the package.” Bribes to Mexican officials are all a part of the journey, with the last bit of extortion the $180 smuggler fee to get across the US border. There is no guarantee; while “there’s an app” to meet transportation in the US, it doesn’t prevent the US Border Patrol from discovering the crossing.
And under the “zero tolerance” policy of the Trump Administration, a family caught crossing the border was separated. Children were taken away from parents, and sent to facilities all over the United States. Those children ultimately could be released to a parent once they are out of custody, or to a relative.
But the United States has its own price to extort. For relatives to get a child, every member of the household must give their fingerprints to ICE. Of course, should they be here illegally, ICE will move to deport. And, past that arguable requirement, whether it’s the parents or relatives; the family must pay the cost of the child’s transportation from wherever the government sent them.
So a child is taken at the border and sent to contracted facilities in, say, Michigan. A relative in Texas, to get the child back, must pay for a plane ticket for the child and for an escort. When the escort and child arrive in Houston, it’s “cash on the barrelhead” at the baggage return, the escort taking the money in exchange for the child. It’s the last bribe, the last bit of squeeze faced by the migrants.
This is far before the status hearing, when a court determines whether the legal asylum claim of the migrant is determined. This is not a criminal fine, nor is it some form of legal punishment. It’s just another “fee.”
Coming to the United States to claim asylum is not illegal. Civilized nations around the world have determined there are reasons to accept migrants, even those who “appear” at the border without the normal visas issued in their home country. Entering the United States and making that claim begins a legal process to ultimately determine its validity.
If the entry into the United States is done legally, that is, at a legal border entry point, then there is no “illegal” activity. However, since the Department of Homeland Security has intentionally slowed the border entry process, stacking thousands of migrants in the dangerous border towns of Mexico, the pressure to enter the US illegally is intense.
At a point where funds are at there lowest, migrants are forced to feed their families in the border towns, survive the violence and extortion, and ultimately face the cost of an illegal border crossing. There’s no going back, and there’s no staying put. Crossing the border outside of a designated point of entry is a misdemeanor offense in the US, but most of the immigrants are tapped out, and the “zero tolerance policy” of the US means they won’t be released. Since Homeland Security has also “slow walked” the increase in immigration judges, it may be years until the asylum request is adjudicated.
The US policy of child separation was one more way of “punishing” migrants. We know there is money to be made in that business, with the new facility in Texas costing over $700/child/day to house children in tents. And far be it from the government who caused that separation, or the contractor, to bear any additional costs. So there’s one last “fee,” one last bribe, to get their kid back.
And this is but one reason why I won’t be flying a flag to “celebrate” our country this year. I am having a tough time celebrating. I have only flown it on Memorial Day to honor veterans.