Two walls
Mexico used to hold the reputation of being a sanctuary for asylum seekers, embracing migrants with open arms. However, in the last 6 years, Mexico has served as a co-enforcer of the United States’ anti-migration policies.
The once-welcoming haven has succumbed to frequent raids, denied humanitarian visas, expedited deportations, sudden closures of migrant caravans, and strains on asylum seekers in border cities. These measures have been implemented in response to the persistent demands of various American administrations, each advocating for a tougher migration policy.
Additionally, the United States implemented expedited deportations under the “Migrant Protection Protocol,” more commonly known as “Remain in Mexico.” They initially cited sanitary concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic under “Title 42” but later shifted to “Title 8,” which criminalizes asylum seekers who make multiple attempts to cross into the United States. This has resulted in thousands of migrants and asylum seekers forced to wait in perilous border cities, often in improvised makeshift camps that sprawl across these dangerous areas on the Mexican side frequently controlled by corrupt authorities and drug cartels, adding to the hardships faced by those seeking refuge.
Through the policy of denying asylum and Mexico’s role as a co-enforcer, the United States and Mexico have added new layers to the already towering wall, leaving those most in need of the right to asylum stranded amid an unfathomable struggle, halted next to a physical, psychological and administrative multi-layered barrier that stands as a monument of separation designed to shut down the doors that once promised refuge to those seeking safety, conducting them into a labyrinth of uncertainty. These current policies are a disheartening testament to the disconnect between the politics of power and the plight of the vulnerable.
It is crucial that we reflect on the profound implications of this migrant reality and hold accountable the politicians behind these policies. This project is a call to action, urging us to dismantle the barriers and the systemic obstacles that confine migrants and asylum seekers within this labyrinthine ordeal. We can create a course toward a more compassionate and inclusive future through collective understanding, empathy, and a renewed commitment to human rights.
📖 Dos Muros | Two Walls
- Author: Alejandro Cegarra
- Text: Santiago Escobar & Alejandro Cegarra
- Publisher: Raya Editorial
- Place of publication: Manizales, Colombia
- Year of publication: 2024
- Format: Book published by commercial publisher
- Website: alecegarra.com/the-two-walls-1
- Related video: Watch on YouTube
📚 Dos Muros | Two Walls documents the reality of the Mexico–United States border, revealing the human impact of migration policies and the suffering of those searching for a safe place to live. Through an intimate and critical lens, Cegarra builds a powerful visual narrative that highlights the physical, social, and political barriers dividing people.
