Reporting on July 6, 2023, the Nogales-based Kino Border Initiative (KBI), recounted a case of intimidation by Border Patrol agents to encourage a migrant’s signing of voluntary deportation, resulting in the separation of a grandfather from his two minor grandchildren who stayed in the U.S. under ORR’s custody.
Among cases cited:
For instance, BP apprehended Alberto* [name changed to protect privacy] and his grandchildren who are fleeing violence. A BP agent asked him if he could return to Mexico to which he responded he could not. However, a second agent continued to ask with more pressure, “Can you return to your country, yes or no?”Alberto felt intimidated into saying yes. They asked nothing further and made him sign his deportation. Alberto and his 19 year old granddaughter were deported and separated from his 2 minor grandchildren, who stayed in the US under ORR’s custody.
Kino Border Initiative. 2022. “Congressional Year End Report 2023.” Https://Www.Kinoborderinitiative.Org/Annual-Report/. Kino Border Initiative. https://www.kinoborderinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Congressional-Year-End-Report-2023_.pdf.