Cory Booker Escorts Female Asylum Seekers From Mexico Into The US

Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker crossed the border into Juarez, Mexico, to assist five female asylum seekers in their efforts to reach the United States on Wednesday.

According to a series of tweets from Booker’s press secretary Sabrina Singh, the 2020 presidential candidate crossed the border from Juarez to El Paso in order to “help escort 5 asylum-seekers and try to prevent them from being sent back to Mexico.”

NEWS: Today @CoryBooker crossed the U.S. border from Juarez to El Paso with @fams2gether to help escort 5 asylum-seekers and try to prevent them from being sent back to Mexico. https://t.co/SiDIvXJiCc

— Sabrina Singh (@sabrinasingh24) July 3, 2019

Singh noted that the visit was not made public in order to guarantee the safety of the asylum seekers, adding, “Cory was able to observe the crossing, interactions with federal immigration authorities, and see the disastrous impact of President Trump’s cruel immigration policy.”

Cory was able to observe the crossing, interactions with federal immigration authorities, and see the disastrous impact of President Trump's cruel immigration policy.

— Sabrina Singh (@sabrinasingh24) July 3, 2019

Linda Rivas, an attorney with the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, told The El Paso Times the women were victims of sexual assault and labor trafficking in Juarez.

The women were subject to the “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP) program, which sends asylum seekers back to Mexico to await court hearings in the U.S

“I saw an opportunity that I could make a difference with my office,” Booker said, “and get them fairly evaluated. We’re going to follow them all the way through that process. They’re legitimate and they should be allowed entry.” Booker did not indicate how he knew that they had “legitimate” asylum claims.

Rivas said the women will most likely be asked to prove they face significant risk if returned to Juarez.

“We hope that they are released from MPP and eventually allowed to seek asylum without being detained” or returned to Mexico, Rivas told the paper.

Booker is the second Democratic presidential candidate to visit Juarez. Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke visited the border city on Sunday to draw attention to the plight of immigrants.

Booker’s visit comes a day after he unveiled an aggressive plan that would undo much of President Trump’s immigration agenda. His proposal would expand protections for undocumented immigrants through executive order and eliminate immigrant detention.

NEW: I’m introducing a plan to fix our broken immigration system—without Congress. https://t.co/PFCuvn4yOg pic.twitter.com/d8hyHlZjYG

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) July 2, 2019

Booker said that beginning on Day One of my presidency, I’ll use my executive authority to reform our badly broken immigration system—without Congress.

Beginning on Day One of my presidency, I’ll use my executive authority to reform our badly broken immigration system—without Congress. Here’s how: https://t.co/IxibyWLSlc

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) July 3, 2019