5 Syrian refugees turn themselves in at US-Mexico border

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

LAREDO, Texas (AP) — Federal officials say another group of Syrian refugees has turned themselves in to immigration authorities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Sunday that the group identified themselves to border agents in the South Texas town of Laredo on Friday. The group consisted of a family of three along with two other men.

They were held to check their identities against national security databases and then turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for temporary detention.

Their arrival came after two Syrian families identified themselves Tuesday to border officials in Laredo. In each instance, the men were taken to one detention facility and the women and children to another.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b4e3c6d1a2ab4561b0fbf5b46f26c511/5-syrian-refugees-turn-themselves-us-mexico-border

[alfredo]

1. I see that Guv Abbott is going to forbid any help for Syrian refugees.

That covers social services and churches.

[Unknown Beatle]

4. He doesn't have a choice in the matter,

it's federal law which trumps state law.

[alfredo]

8. But he is saying churches and other social services is forbidden to give aid.

He based his decision on a lie by Breitbart. There's no way he couldn't have known the truth.

[Travis_0004]

2. Are they still refugees?

Couldnt they stay in Mexico and establish a life there?

[christx30]

3. Probably not.

Mexico has very strict immigration laws.

[yeoman6987]

5. That is unbelievable in my opinion

The president of Mexico yelled at the United States over the handling of 11 million illegals which he has a point. But what would he do if 11 million Americans went to Mexico illegally? Arrest them?

[840high]

6. Arrest them.

[christx30]

10. Here's a little light reading

https://factreal.wordpress.com/2010/05/08/mexico-vs-united-states-mexican-immigration-laws-are-tougher/

[yeoman6987]

11. Holy cow. I didn't read it all yet, but I will

If our country made these laws, it would be considered racist. Different culture I believe.

[christx30]

16. So when the Mexican government

complains about the US's immigration laws, I just laugh.

[Travis_0004]

12. Read about mexico abusing their migrants from central america.

[yeoman6987]

14. I am scare to. But I will.

[alfredo]

9. Climate change will soon destabilize Mexico as it has in Syria.

[uppityperson]

7. Too bad there isn't a method to screen refugees so they don't have to come in illegally

[Travis_0004]

13. What do you do if the process takes 18 months?

[uppityperson]

15. I know, the refugee process is looking and involved and you don't get to choose what country you

go to if you make it through the process.

My snark, and apologies, was for the rwingers who decry both illegal and legal entry. I wasnt clear, sorry.

[Liberty Belle]

17. This is what happens to them, and it's not a pretty sight:

they are put in detention centers, aka private prisons like this one:
http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/east-county-chaldeans-plea-release-christians-detained-homeland-security-otay

The Iraqis we wrote about in this story have mostly been deported since then; they came seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border in San Diego, and were sent back even though they were Christians with family members here willing to take them in, so I wouldn't be too optimistic about Syrian asylum seekers getting any better treatment.

The conditions are terrible by the way in the facilities from what we here -- other countries have far better ways of handling asylum seekers pending hearings, though Paris and the stepped up ISIS attacks in more and more cities may change things and not for the better for refugees or asylum seekers.

The ICE facilities here are run by Correction Corporations of America, which makes money by warehousing as many people as possible for as long as they can.