Mid-October, 2022

Reporting on October 27, 2022, the Nogales-based Kino Border Initiative (KBI) recounted a case of Border Patrol agents separating members of a migrant family.

Olga [name changed to protect privacy] was traveling with her son and her friend’s child, Leonel [name changed to protect privacy], of whom she has legal guardianship. Upon being apprehended by BP, [Border Patrol] agents separated Olga from Leonel because he wasn’t her biological child. They pushed him aggressively against the BP truck and took him, even though Olga had a notarized document showing her guardianship. They told Olga his biological mom had to get him and expelled Olga and her son without Leonel.

— “October 27 update from KBI” (Nogales: Kino Border Initiative, October 27, 2022).

Sector(s): Tucson

Agency(ies): Border Patrol

Event Type(s): Family Separation

Accountability Status: Unknown

Victim Classification: Family Unit