(New York) After 40 days of traveling from Venezuela to the Mexican-American border, Gustavo Mendez boarded a bus in Texas and disembarked in New York. Without understanding that, like thousands of Latin American migrants in recent months, he serves as a “pawn” in a political battle between Republicans and Democrats.
Posted at 9:59
The policy of immigration and reception of the first world power, in particular of migrants from Latin America, has always been an explosive subject in the United States.
And three months before the midterm legislative elections, where the Democrats could lose their majority in Congress, the Republican governor of Texas Greg Abbott – who wants to be re-elected in November – is putting pressure on the government of Joe Biden.
Mr. Abbott, whose huge border state with Mexico faces massive immigration daily, has chartered hundreds of buses since April that transport immigrants and asylum seekers to Washington free of charge.
Since August 5, the first buses have also been connecting Texas to New York.
The federal capital and the economic and cultural megalopolis are democratic strongholds.
“Sanctuary City”
“Apart from Washington, New York is the ideal destination for these migrants who can take advantage of all the reception services of a sanctuary city boasted by the mayor (Democrat of New York) Eric Adams”, thus ironically, last Friday, Republican Governor.
Mr Abbott, a Tory, added “hope that (Mr Adams) keeps his promise to welcome all migrants with open arms and thus relieve the border towns (in the southern United States) overwhelmed” by the influx of strangers.
“Repugnant” remarks, thundered the town hall of New York.
Landed Wednesday at dawn from Texas in the gigantic Manhattan bus station, Gustavo Mendez, a 40-year-old Venezuelan technician, knows nothing of these political contests.
The man tells AFP that once he entered the United States through the Mexican border, the Texan authorities “gave him the choice: to go where (he) wanted
He “chose” New York because he “didn’t have the means to go elsewhere”.
” Unprecedented ”
According to the head of immigration policy at New York City Hall, Manuel Castro, “the situation is unprecedented”.
Governor Abbott uses human beings as political pawns to stir up resentment against immigrants.
Manuel Castro, head of immigration policy at New York City Hall
However, this mythical world-city of New York has developed thanks to waves of immigration to become an incredible cultural mosaic of 8.5 million souls, and is “proud to welcome the most refugees, asylum seekers ‘asylum and newly arrived migrants’ in the United States, underlines Mr. Castro.
And the megalopolis is getting organised.
“Our priority is the well-being of these people and their families, many of whom are thirsty, hungry and in need of a medical examination upon their arrival”, assures the municipal official.
Medical staff and dozens of volunteers from humanitarian associations have been hard at work for a week at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the bus station in Manhattan.
Texas buses – again expected this weekend – carry more single men than women and children. Most are Venezuelans, drawn features, a small backpack, even a plastic bag, as luggage.
“Sequels”
For “John”, 39, who says he is Venezuelan, but refuses to give his name, “this trip leaves psychological and physical scars”.
Until the first buses from Texas, from May to August, 4,000 asylum seekers – Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Haitians protected by federal law – had taken refuge in New York, according to the municipality.
They have papers and temporary accommodation and their regularization is examined by the immigration services.
But nationals of other Latin American countries considered economic migrants must manage to find relatives or foster homes.
And without being able to work legally for months.
This is the fate of Richard Castillo, a 28-year-old Peruvian who arrived in New York in May with his wife and two young children.
The man says, with tears in his eyes, that their appointment with the administration is in March, that they have barely enough to eat and stay and that he wears an electronic bracelet to prevent him from looking for a use.
The New York City announced the opening of 11 emergency shelters in Manhattan and the more popular boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. A new permanent home in the heart of Manhattan should also soon welcome 600 families of foreigners.