In a harrowing account, migrants awaiting entry into the U.S. are facing increased sexual violence in Mexican border cities Reynosa and Matamoros. Carolina, a Venezuelan migrant, was kidnapped and raped while waiting for her family to pay a $2,000 ransom. Her account was confirmed by a migrant advocate who spoke anonymously due to safety concerns. Data and interviews reveal a surge in such attacks, coinciding with changes in U.S. immigration policy. The Biden administration’s new system, requiring migrants to book appointments via the CBP One app, has inadvertently contributed to the spike in violence, according to experts.
While the policy aimed to reduce reliance on smugglers, criminal groups are still extorting migrants. Bertha Bermúdez Tapia, a sociologist, stated that rape is used as a form of torture to extract money. The Gulf Cartel and the Northeast Cartel are particularly active in kidnapping migrants for ransom. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials express concern over the situation, but the Department of Homeland Security argues that the new policies make it unnecessary to wait at the border. Despite this, migrants continue to face extreme risks, including sexual violence, as they await their turn to cross into the U.S.
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