February 7, 2023

Reporting on February 16, 2023, the Nogales-based Kino Border Initiative (KBI) recounted a case from February 7, where they “received a group of 20 people from Ecuador, including women and children, who DHS had expelled to Mexico under Title 42, despite the fact that Ecuador is not a country subject to Title 42. Various expelled Ecuadorians showed Kino staff the papers that BP had given them, describing the parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicarguans and Venezuelans.”

Among cases cited:

Yliana [name changed to protect privacy] said that the BP agents told them, “I don’t give a **** why you came here- the Ecuadorians go to Mexico” before expelling the group to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.

“February 16 update from KBI” (Nogales: Kino Border Initiative, February 16, 2023).

Sector(s): Tucson

Agency(ies): Border Patrol

Event Type(s): Denial of Protection to Most Vulnerable, Inappropriate Deportation, Return of Vulnerable Individuals

Accountability Status: Unknown

Victim Classification: Ecuador, Female, Single Adult