Sebastian Quinac from the Guatemalan Consulate in Tucson gives an orientation to Central American migrants arriving at the Tucson Benedictine Monastery. (In blue shirt at the center of the group holding a white pamphlet, March 16, 2019)
As rumors spread over President Trump's threat to close the border, many migrants arriving at Tucson's Benedictine Monastery over the weekend were confused about their status, fearing they could be deported immediately.
Volunteers and staff with Catholic Community Services explained that if U.S. Border Patrol dropped them at the monastery, that means they have cleared the first step in fighting for asylum. However, many didn't understand that they are now in the country legally as they fight their asylum case.
Trump tweeted over the weekend that there is another massive wave of migrants coming from Honduras. But, according to Honduran news accounts, Honduran officials deny there is such a caravan forming.
While most of the migrants seeking asylum are from Central America, Trump has accused the Mexican government of not doing enough to stop migrants heading for the U.S.
Ask almost any one of the migrants taking refuge here at the monastery about Donald Trump, and they know he has a lot to do with what happens to them next.
VIEW LARGER Junior Mateo, 37, and his son, 7, wait for a medical exam at the Tucson Benedictine Monastery. They are from Guatemala and traveled two weeks by foot, bus and train to get to the U.S. border to ask for asylum. (March 30, 2019) Junior Mateo is a 37-year-old man who took two weeks to get to the U.S. border from Guatemala. He hugs his 7-year-old son tightly and said that word spread fast among migrants arriving at Tucson Sector border crossings over the weekend.
"Will 'la migra' come get us here?" he asked, using the the Spanish term for immigration.
"No, you are safe here," says Sebastian Quinac of the Guatemalan Consulate in Tucson. He has been asked by Catholic Community Services to do orientations at the monastery to separate truth from rumor.
"As long as you have that piece of paper that was given to you by immigration," he says, "you are safe."
VIEW LARGER A busload of Central American families dropped off by Border Patrol at Tucson Monastery. (Feb. 21, 2019) The migrants we talked with showed no hostility toward the Trump and his threats to shut down the border. Mateo says the U.S. president is just trying to protect his people. But, If he could talk to Trump, he would say to put his hand on his heart and help the people of Guatemala, because says Mateo, "He is a child of God, and we are children of God too."
While the president has threatened to shut down the border, so far no actions have been taken.
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