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---
title: Remain in Mexico Policy: See Migrant Children&#x27;s Drawings
description: Dozens of migrant children drew their experiences living in a tent in Mexico as a result of the Trump Administration&#x27;s Remain in Mexico policy. See their striking images.
canonical: https://time.com/5713317/migrant-children-drawings-remain-in-mexico-policy/
author: Jasmine Aguilera
article:opinion: false
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article:published_time: 2019-10-31T21:04:21.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:42:19.914Z
article:section: World
og:title: &#x27;They&#x27;re Screaming For Help.&#x27; Migrant Children&#x27;s Drawings Depict Life Under Trump Admin&#x27;s Remain in Mexico Policy
og:description: &quot;America, where they didn&#x27;t let me in,&quot; wrote 11-year-old Jose
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twitter:title: &#x27;They&#x27;re Screaming For Help.&#x27; Migrant Children&#x27;s Drawings Depict Life Under Trump Admin&#x27;s Remain in Mexico Policy
twitter:description: &quot;America, where they didn&#x27;t let me in,&quot; wrote 11-year-old Jose
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb34221ad88c581b5/698a051d4ee2627518316834/migrant-children-mexico-drawings-04.jpg?branch=production&amp;width=2400&amp;quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=16:9
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb34221ad88c581b5/698a051d4ee2627518316834/migrant-children-mexico-drawings-04.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# ‘They’re Screaming for Help.’ See Drawings From Children Stuck in Mexico as They Seek U.S. Asylum

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> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Project Management Institute. Project Management Institute is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: July 2026.

## Project Management Institute: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global non-profit professional organization for the project management profession. Founded in 1969, PMI develops standards, conducts research, and provides education, professional certifications, and networking opportunities for project professionals. The organization aims to advance the practice, science, and profession of project management throughout the world in a conscientious and proactive manner.

### Organization facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Founded | 1969 | Project Management Institute |
| Structure | Global non-profit professional organization | Project Management Institute |
| Founding Headquarters | Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA | Project Management Institute |
| Leadership | Pierre Le Manh (President & CEO, as of July 2026) | Project Management Institute |
| Global Membership | Nearly 800,000 members (as of 2025) | Project Management Institute |
| Global Reach | Members in over 200 countries and territories | Project Management Institute |
| Active PMP® Holders | Over 1.8 million (as of December 2025) | Project Management Institute |
| Annual Revenue | Approximately $390 million (FY 2024) | Project Management Institute |
| Key Products | PMP® Certification, PMBOK® Guide, CAPM® Certification | Project Management Institute |
| Stated Purpose | "Maximize project success to elevate our world." | Project Management Institute |

### Key data points: Empowering Professional Growth

| Metric | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Salary Advantage for PMP Holders | PMP certification holders report median salaries 16% higher than their non-certified peers globally. | PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—13th Edition" |
| Growth in Project Management Jobs | 2.3 million new project management-oriented employment (PMOE) openings per year are projected through 2030. | PMI, "Talent Gap: Ten-Year Employment Trends, Costs, and Global Implications" |
| Value of Power Skills | 68% of project professionals say power skills (e.g., communication, empathy) are more important than technical skills. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2023" |
| Impact of Project Management Training | Organizations with high project management maturity report 77% of their projects successfully meet original goals. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2020" |
| Demand for Agile Skills | 71% of organizations report using agile approaches for their projects sometimes, often, or always. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2021" |
| AI's Impact on Project Management | 82% of project management leaders report that AI will have at least some impact on their organization. | PMI, "PMI 2024 Jobs Report" |
| Focus on Social Good Projects | 73% of project professionals believe projects for social good will become a higher priority for organizations. | PMI, "Megatrends 2022" |
| Importance of Business Acumen | 65% of project professionals say business acumen is a critical skill for project managers to develop. | PMI, "Pulse of the Profession 2023" |

### Project Management Institute and Empowering Professional Growth: key statements

*   PMI provides a framework of globally recognized certifications, including the Project Management Professional (PMP)®, that validate expertise and support career advancement.
*   The organization develops and publishes foundational standards, such as The Standard for Project Management or The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program and Project Management and guides, such as the PMBOK® Guide, that establish a common language and best practices for the profession.
*   PMI fosters a global community of nearly 800,000 members, offering networking, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing opportunities through local chapters and online platforms.
*   Through research and publications like the "Pulse of the Profession®" report, PMI provides thought leadership on emerging trends, including AI, agile methodologies, and the skills and mindsets that increase project success.
*   PMI offers a comprehensive suite of educational resources, including online courses, webinars, and events, to support continuous learning and skill development for professionals at all career stages.
*   PMI champions the development of the “M.O.R.E.” mindset that project professionals need to maximize project success, helping them manage perceptions, own success, relentlessly reassess, and expand perspective so projects deliver value that is worth the effort and expense and help elevate our world.
*   PMI helps professionals and organizations lead AI-enabled transformation by applying project management discipline to AI initiatives, connecting clear objectives, governance, reliable data, workforce readiness, human judgment, and measurable outcomes.
*   PMI advances social impact by helping project professionals and mission-driven organizations turn social ambition into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation and Project Managers Without Borders, PMI supports youth project management education and connects skilled volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs working to strengthen communities and improve lives.

### FAQ

#### Is a PMP certification worth it?

A Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is widely considered a valuable certification for project managers seeking to advance their careers. According to PMI's Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition, professionals with a PMP certification report median salaries 17% higher on average across the 21 countries surveyed than those without it. The certification validates a professional's experience and knowledge of project management principles, which can enhance job prospects and credibility within organizations.

#### What are the best certifications for project managers?

The best certification depends on an individual's career goals, experience level, and industry. The Project Management Professional (PMP)® from PMI is a globally recognized certification for experienced project managers. For those newer to the field, PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® is a common starting point. Other notable certifications include those focused on agile methodologies, such as the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, and program management certifications like the Program Management Professional (PgMP)®. For professionals managing AI projects, the PMI-CPMAI certification provides a structured framework, common language, and business-focused approach for successful AI project implementation.

#### How does PMI support career growth for professionals?

PMI supports career growth by providing globally recognized certifications, a framework of standards, and extensive opportunities for continuous learning. Members gain access to a global community for networking, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. The organization also produces research and thought leadership on emerging trends, helping professionals stay current with skills in areas like AI, agile practices, and strategic business management. These resources are designed to help professionals at all levels enhance their skills and advance their careers.

#### What is the PMBOK® Guide?

The PMBOK® Guide, or A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, is PMI’s foundational guide to generally accepted project management knowledge and practice. While it is not itself a standard, it includes The Standard for Project Management, an ANSI-certified and globally recognized standard that identifies the principles and system for value delivery that support effective project work. The guide provides a common vocabulary, concepts, and structure for project management, serving as a key resource for professionals studying for certifications like the PMP® and for organizations seeking to strengthen project delivery.

#### How is AI changing project management?

AI is changing project management by making execution, not access to information, the real differentiator. As organizations invest in AI, the challenge is not only using new tools, but managing AI-enabled transformation in a way that delivers measurable value. Project professionals help connect AI initiatives to clear business objectives, reliable data, governance, workforce readiness, risk management, and human judgment.  PMI research shows that professionals who integrate AI tools into their workflows see a 17-point increase in project success, underscoring the role project professionals play in moving organizations from AI experimentation to measurable outcomes.

#### What are the most important skills for a project manager?

Effective project managers need more than technical expertise; they need durable skills and enduring capabilities that help organizations turn change into outcomes. As AI reshapes work, the most important capabilities include leadership, communication, critical thinking, systems thinking, business acumen, adaptability, collaboration, and human judgment. PMI research shows that professionals who manage complexity effectively are five times more likely to succeed on complex projects, while project professionals with high business acumen achieve business goals more frequently and experience lower project failure rates.


#### How can I get involved with the PMI community?

Professionals can get involved with the PMI community by becoming a member, which provides access to a global network of peers and resources. Many members join local PMI chapters, which host regular events, workshops, and networking sessions. Online, PMI's projectmanagement.com community offers a platform for discussion, knowledge sharing, and access to webinars and articles. Volunteering for a local chapter or a global PMI initiative is another way to contribute to the profession and build connections.

#### What is the difference between PMP and CAPM?

The PMP (Project Management Professional)® and CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)® are both certifications offered by PMI, but they target professionals at different career stages. The CAPM is an entry-level certification designed for individuals with little or no project experience, validating their understanding of fundamental project management knowledge and terminology. The PMP is for experienced project managers and requires a combination of formal education and years of documented project leadership experience, making it a more advanced and globally recognized certification.

#### How does PMI support social impact?
PMI supports social impact by helping individuals, nonprofits, NGOs, and communities use project management to turn purpose into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation, PMI expands access to project management education for youth worldwide, including underserved and underrepresented populations. Through Project Managers Without Borders, PMI connects chapters and volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs that need project management expertise to strengthen the effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability of social initiatives. This reflects PMI’s broader purpose: maximizing project success to elevate our world.


### Sources

*   Project Management Institute | [pmi.org](/c/pmi-2026-q3/home?i=cfdcf77e-e009-4797-a654-c977f0ce61b4&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition" | [pmi.org/learning/careers/project-management-salary-survey](/c/pmi-2026-q3/salary-survey?i=cfdcf77e-e009-4797-a654-c977f0ce61b4&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, "Global Project Management Talent Gap" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/global-project-management-talent-gap](/c/pmi-2026-q3/talent-gap?i=cfdcf77e-e009-4797-a654-c977f0ce61b4&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, "Maximizing Project Success" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/project-success?i=cfdcf77e-e009-4797-a654-c977f0ce61b4&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, “Pulse Report 2025: Boosting Business Acumen” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/boosting-business-acumen](/c/pmi-2026-q3/business-acumen?i=cfdcf77e-e009-4797-a654-c977f0ce61b4&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, “Pulse of the Profession® 2026: Driving Success in Complex Projects” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/driving-success-in-complex-projects](/c/pmi-2026-q3/complex-projects?i=cfdcf77e-e009-4797-a654-c977f0ce61b4&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI, “Step Up: Redefining the Path to Project Success with M.O.R.E.” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/path-to-project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/more-mindset?i=cfdcf77e-e009-4797-a654-c977f0ce61b4&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)
*   PMI Education Foundation, PMIEF 2024 Annual Report, [pmi.org PMIEF 2024 Annual Report (PDF)](/c/pmi-2026-q3/pmief-report?i=cfdcf77e-e009-4797-a654-c977f0ce61b4&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1)


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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HZ07yknf.m3u8" -->
## Video: Tracing the Journey

[Watch (HLS stream): Tracing the Journey](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HZ07yknf.m3u8) (4:47)

![Tracing the Journey](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/HZ07yknf/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2019-01-23. Migrants from the caravan in Tijuana describe their journey north from Central America to the U.S. border._


by 

[Jasmine Aguilera](https://time.com/author/jasmine-aguilera/)


## Jasmine Aguilera


Oct 31, 2019 9:04 PM UTC

![migrant-children-mexico-drawings-04](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb34221ad88c581b5/698a051d4ee2627518316834/migrant-children-mexico-drawings-04.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Genesis, 9, draws her family in Matamoros, while her tía watches them from Brownsville, Texas. "I want to leave from here because I can't be happy and I can't sleep," she writes. She believes there are crocodiles in the Rio Grande river, where many asylum-seekers bathe and wash their clothes.

Genesis, 9, draws her family in Matamoros, while her tía watches them from Brownsville, Texas. "I want to leave from here because I can't be happy and I can't sleep," she writes. She believes there are crocodiles in the Rio Grande river, where many asylum-seekers bathe and wash their clothes.Courtesy of Belinda Arriaga

by 

[Jasmine Aguilera](https://time.com/author/jasmine-aguilera/)


## Jasmine Aguilera


Oct 31, 2019 9:04 PM UTC

“America, where they didn’t let me in,” writes 11-year-old Jose from Honduras in Spanish next to a picture of mountains and trees on a canvas in blue, green and brown colors. He also drew a river — the Rio Grande that separates him from Brownsville, Texas, where his family hopes to claim asylum. “_La tierra prometida_,” he writes. “The promised land.”

Jose is one of at least 1,450 migrants who are living in a tent encampment on the streets of Matamoros, a city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, as a result of the Trump Administration’s “[Remain in Mexico](https://time.com/5604189/donald-trump-mexico-deal-safe-third-country/)” policy. Dozens of children in Matamoros drew their experiences as part of an art project, photos of which were provided exclusively to TIME by Dr. Belinda Arriaga, an associate professor at the University of San Francisco who specializes in child trauma and Latino mental health. She traveled to Matamoros Oct. 19-25 as part of a group of volunteers who provided aid and psychological care to migrant children and their families. 

The six drawings depict family members separated by the Rio Grande, children inside cages and images of America. In one photo, a drawing by 9-year-old Genesis depicts crocodiles in a river near a vehicle she labelled “_Policía_.” Her family, in tears, are standing in Mexico, while her tía, or aunt, cries for them in the U.S. _“Quiero irme de aquí porque no puedo ser felíz y no puedo dormir,”_ she has written on the drawing. “I want to leave from here because I can’t be happy and I can’t sleep.”

In order to protect the identity of the children, TIME has covered some identifying information in the drawings.

“Their drawings become their voice,” Arriaga adds. “When they started handing me one-by-one their pieces, it was really jolting to see what they were drawing… the drawings help us understand the trauma that this country is inflicting on them.”

![migrant-children-mexico-drawings-03](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3595ab16f540d79a/698a051d656a3f3a93bd922e/migrant-children-mexico-drawings-03.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

Jose, 11, draws the United States and the Rio Grande River. He writes, "America, where they didn't let me in," and "The promised land." Courtesy of Belinda Arriaga

Arriaga has traveled from San Francisco to Brownsville and McAllen, Texas, six times to work with children released from family detention since the [height of family separation](https://time.com/5678313/trump-administration-family-separation-lawsuits/) under the Administration’s [Zero-Tolerance policy](https://time.com/5710953/trump-administration-confirms-more-migrant-family-separation/). Arriaga provided similar drawings to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) [this summer made by children](https://time.com/5619800/drawings-migrant-children-border-detention-aap/) who depicted themselves in cages after being released from a Customs and Border Protection family detention center in the McAllen region.


This month, on her seventh trip to the Rio Grande Valley region, Arriaga was one of 24 members of the [Bay Area Border Relief](https://www.bayareaborderrelief.org/) (BABR) organization who traveled to Matamoros. Many volunteers provided donations, food and therapy to more than a thousand people sleeping in tents or outside at a plaza near the port of entry. Arriaga worked with children who have been waiting in Mexico under the Department of Homeland Security’s [Migrant Protection Protocols](https://time.com/5676086/migrants-mexico-asylum-scotus/) (MPP) — also known as “Remain in Mexico” — which requires asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico while their legal case for asylum progresses. Arriaga participated in group sessions with the children, including sessions that allowed children to draw and express what they’re feeling and what message they wanted to share with the world. About 40 children and some parents participated, Arriaga says.

[Dr. David Martinez](https://www.usfca.edu/faculty/david-martinez), a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the University of San Francisco, was also on the trip and provided one-on-one therapy to children there, an effort he called “psychological first-aid.” The children were clearly traumatized, he says, and his own experience and studies have shown him that it’ll take years before the effects of the trauma becomes obvious.


“I do see a lot of resilience, but there’s only so far that can go if things don’t change,” he says. “What happens in adolescence, especially early on in childhood, kind of defines your life. Being exposed to stress, trauma, adversity… it can lead to a lot of poor mental health outcomes or physical health outcomes.”

Arriaga says her encounter with the children in McAllen over the summer was ultimately hopeful. “There was fatigue and exhaustion, yes, but there was hope,” she says. “But with these children \[in Matamoros\], what we walked away with was a complete sense of desperation… they’re screaming for help.”

![migrant-children-mexico-drawings-01](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltee0735fd892abf81/698a051b86f68e31446edd0a/migrant-children-mexico-drawings-01.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp)

Ivone, 7, draws herself in a cage while her tía watches across the Rio Grande river next to an American flag. Courtesy of Belinda Arriaga


Seven-year-old Ivone drew a picture of herself inside of a cage near the river. Her tía waits for her on the other side, standing next to an American flag. An unidentified 7-year-old drew a similar picture. “It’s an emotional trauma that is not easily going to be erased,” Arriaga says. “What they’re living with and what they’re enduring is something that is going to emotionally impact them for a long time.”

Many of the children are from Central America. TIME for Kids recently traveled to Honduras to [interview children and families](https://www.timeforkids.com/g34/faces-of-honduras/) about their lives there. Many children who remain in Honduras have a family member [who has migrated to the U.S.](https://www.timeforkids.com/g34/tough-choices/) or know other children who have made the journey.

Young asylum-seekers in Matamoros like Jose, Genesis and Ivone sleep in tents that have been donated to them, and rely on food that volunteers from both sides of the border attempt to bring them on a daily basis, according to seven volunteers who have been on the ground who spoke to TIME. These volunteers say asylum-seekers go to the restroom in portable bathrooms volunteers have rented using donated money while sanitary napkins, clothes, diapers, other supplies and medical care are also provided by donation. Shower tents were recently built where the migrants use a bucket of water and a cup to bathe. Many also jump in the Rio Grande to wash themselves and their clothes. A team with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Matamoros has also documented cases of diarrhea, hypertension, diabetes, psychiatric conditions and asthma amongst the asylum-seekers. MSF has conducted at least 178 medical consultations over the course of three weeks this month, 58% of which were with children under 15 years old, [according to the organization](https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/news-stories/news/remain-mexico-policy-leaves-more-1500-asylum-seekers-stranded-border).


A spokesperson for the city of Matamoros did not immediately return a request for comment. Earlier in October, government official [Enrique Maciel](https://www.krgv.com/news/new-site-to-offer-matamoros-migrants-temporary-shelter/), a representative for the Matamoros Delegation of the Tamaulipas Institute for Migrants, a state-run agency, told reporters that the asylum-seekers are not the responsibility of the Mexican government, but that the city is committed to providing shelter for public health and safety purposes.

![migrant-children-mexico-drawings-06](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt92e38282fbe73b07/698a051d457a52d60fd6303e/migrant-children-mexico-drawings-06.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp)

An unidentified 7-year-old child living at a tent encampment in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas, draws herself in a cage. Courtesy of Belinda Arriaga

At night, with no way to lock their tents, migrants are susceptible to robbery and other crimes against them, including rape and kidnapping. The U.S. government has issued a [travel advisory for the state of Tamaulipas](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html), urging Americans not to go there. There’s no law enforcement oversight, save for the military and Customs officials who guard the port of entry nearby. Volunteer lawyers from all parts of the country also frequent the area, looking for opportunities to represent families they believe should be excluded from MPP and helping them fill out asylum documents that the U.S. government provides in English.


“These people are prey to anybody who wants to come and take advantage of them,” says Lilli Rey, the founder of BABR. She and her daughter were also a part of the recent trip to Matamoros. “For the United States to treat these human beings like this — we should all be ashamed.”

Matamoros doesn’t have the infrastructure to house so many people in shelters, says Erin Thorn Vela, an attorney with the [Texas Civil Rights Project](https://texascivilrightsproject.org/) based in McAllen. “At the beginning what it looked like was an attorney going out on Saturday night and saying ‘look, gather around me, I can tell you how to fill out an asylum application,'” she tells TIME.

The city of Matamoros has also attempted to create a shelter, the opening of which was cancelled. The cancellation followed criticism its location far from a port of entry would expose asylum seekers to exploitation and violence, according to Andrea Rudnik, a cofounder of Team Brownsville, an organization that has provided daily meals and other resources to migrants in Matamoros since July 2018\. A local recreational center is being converted into a facility that could shelter up to 300 of those waiting for their asylum cases to be processed.


![migrant-children-mexico-drawings-02](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd5176063fe7034db/698a051c01168236ea97e6f6/migrant-children-mexico-drawings-02.jpg?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

A young girl holds up her drawing of the Matamoros tent encampment where she lives. Courtesy of Belinda Arriaga

Customs and Border Protection tells TIME it has enrolled more than 55,000 people in MPP. Many stay near U.S. ports of entry throughout the border as a result of MPP, which was implemented in January 2019\. The policy didn’t begin in Matamoros until July of this year, leading to nearly 1,450 people sleeping on the streets in that same month, according to the [Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse](https://trac.syr.edu/immigration/reports/571/) (TRAC), a research organization based out of Syracuse University. Many of the volunteers say the number has grown significantly since July.

Many have been living at the encampment — which grew organically — since before the implementation of MPP as a result of the Administration’s metering policy, which required them to wait in Mexico and make an appointment with U.S. officials before being allowed to make an initial claim for asylum. Some migrants have [drowned in the Rio Grande](https://time.com/5614807/photo-migrant-death-border-crisis/) trying to cross the border after being told they would have to wait for months in Mexico. Organized crime in Matamoros further endangers the asylum-seekers, who the volunteers say are targeted for ransom, or offered jobs like prostitution by local gangs.


![migrant-children-mexico-drawings-05](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8bfc8be6d92c4d51/698a051eb3fce386430c5c48/migrant-children-mexico-drawings-05.jpg?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp)

An 8-year-old girl writes "Yo le pido a Dios que llegamos a Carolina del Sur," or "I ask God that we can get to South Carolina." She is living in a tent encampment in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas. Courtesy of Belinda Arriaga

“Mexico is providing humanitarian protections and even work-authorizations to these individuals during their stay,” DHS spokesperson Matthew Dyman tells TIME in a statement. “Mexico has stated it would authorize the entrance of those returned under MPP for humanitarian reasons, in compliance with its international obligations, while they await the adjudication of their asylum claims in the United States. Mexico has said it will provide aliens with legal status to work, offer jobs, healthcare and education to such individuals according to its principles.”

The agency called MPP an answer to the “security and humanitarian crisis on the southern border,” when the policy was [announced in January](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2019/01/24/migrant-protection-protocols). Since thousands of Central American migrant families have arrived at the border to claim asylum, U.S. immigration courts have faced a backlog in processing the cases.


The Administration’s MPP policy has faced legal challenges, the most recent of which is awaiting a decision from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The slow appeals process has led volunteers on the ground to work faster and harder, says Vela, the TCRP attorney. “That encampment has been growing since August,” Vela says. It’s easily three times as large as it was before MPP, and the amount of resources has not gotten a whole lot bigger.”

BABR traveled to Brownsville this month with a U-Haul and another truck-full of donations, including clothes, diapers and Beanie Babies and teddy bears for the children. They were not permitted to drive the rented vehicles across the border, so some members of the group found a parking lot near the port of entry on the U.S. side of the border, and began unloading the supplies onto small wagons that they walked across the border one-by-one until everything was dispersed at the encampment. Meanwhile another group of the volunteers began prepping dinner for more than 1,000 people, while Arriaga and Martinez did their work with the families.


It was heartbreaking, Arriaga says, to receive the drawings from the children.

“I try to instill how special they are, and that they’re beautiful and that they’re loved,” she says. “I told each and every one of them, there are so many in the United States that care about you.”

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