With a hug that lasted a few minutes, the week-long nightmare for a separated Cuban family at the US-Mexico border came to an end.
Last Friday, they had a bitter moment. Mariolis Montano had come to the border with his 14-year-old son. Her husband had crossed paths with her before with an appointment at CBP One, his had a March 3 date, but her son didn’t.
“A mother never abandons a child. We came together and we leave together,” Mariolis said at the time.
A few days before her due date, she made this firm decision: she would not leave her son in the dangerous Ciudad Juárez.
“I tell all mothers in this process to think carefully before parting with their children, because with strength and patience anything can be achieved.”
That’s what he told us today after finally crossing paths with her after successfully securing an appointment for the minor.
When we accompanied her to the bridge, on the Mexican side, her face lit up, she told us.
“Here with my Fabi, when God wants there is nothing impossible”
The dramatic case is not unique to Mariolis, Luis Alberto and Fabián, thousands of families seeking asylum at the border face the challenge of not being able to manage appointments at CBP One.
This lawyer recommends that in the worst case scenario, it should be done.
Willy Allen, immigration lawyer, says:
“Don’t go to the border until the whole family has an appointment, if not the same day, at least the next day to see if they don’t separate them as they have done so far. “
Fabio Dupont Montano, who requested political asylum at the border, says: “Since I arrived in the United States. I would like to study medicine to help people.
Reports of irregularity with CBP ONE are very common among users. The authorities argue the volume of requests. Today we asked the Department of Homeland Security how many people had made appointments since January with this app, but they told us those numbers weren’t yet available.