Background on the Situation
Families separated by the ordeal of irregular migration to the United States protested on Saturday in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. This demonstration occurred due to Donald Trump’s aggressive border policies preventing an annual reunion organized specifically for Mother’s Day.
New Border Defense Zone
Last week, the U.S. military established a new defense zone along the border with Texas, which includes the boundary with Juárez. This new zone allows military personnel to detain individuals crossing the border irregularly.
Cancellation of “Abrazos, no muros” Event
As a result of the new defense zone, U.S. authorities canceled the traditional “Abrazos, no muros” (Hugs, not Walls) event organized by the Red Frontier Human Rights Organization since 2016. This event aimed to allow migrants to briefly reunite with their loved ones along the border for Mother’s Day on May 10th.
Protest and Demands
In response to the cancellation, the Red Frontier Human Rights Organization called on over a hundred registered families to participate in an alternative event titled “Madres de la Frontera, amor sin fronteras” (Mothers of the Border, Love Without Borders).
Irma Cruz, a member of the Red Frontier Human Rights Organization, expressed her disappointment: “We’ve done this without any issues since 2016, and now we’re being prohibited from using even a small portion of the border.” She described the cancellation as “a devastating decision,” emphasizing that it highlights a humanitarian crisis.
Personal Stories
Matilde Rosales shared her disappointment with AFP about not being able to reunite with her sister Isabel, whom she hasn’t seen in person for eight years. She pleaded with President Trump to reconsider his policies and allow the “Abrazos, no muros” event.
“It’s only five minutes, but they mean so much to us. We enjoy them very much,” Rosales said, holding a red rose and wiping away tears.
Simultaneous Protests
While families protested in Ciudad Juárez, the organization also encouraged relatives in El Paso to gather and demonstrate against the border restrictions preventing reunions.
Despite being more than a hundred meters apart, families on both sides waved and used binoculars to try and see each other.
A Heartfelt Story
Alejandro Ordaz, 46, traveled over 800 kilometers from Torreón, Coahuila, to Juárez in hopes of embracing his mother, who has lived in the United States for two decades. He expressed his hope to AFP, saying, “I pray for the day I can hug her again.”
