Asylum Seekers Sent To Nogales, Sonora, Have Court Hearings Hundreds Of Miles Away

By Kendal Blust, Lauren Gilger
Published: Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - 2:03pm
Updated: Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - 3:43pm
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Two weeks ago, U.S. Customs and Border Protection started sending asylum seekers to Nogales, Sonora, to wait while their cases proceed through the U.S. asylum system. It’s part of the so-called “Remain in Mexico” program.

U.S. authorities have said the program was implemented to stop people from “taking advantage of the immigration system.”

But others say it puts migrants in dangerous situations and deters people with legitimate asylum claims from asking for refuge.

Now, there’s concern that migrants being sent to Nogales, Sonora, will have an even harder time accessing the asylum system because their hearings are being scheduled hundreds of miles away in El Paso.

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