Venezuelan migrant leaves dog behind to ask for U.S. asylum

Record ID: 1688661

  • Title: Venezuelan migrant leaves dog behind to ask for U.S. asylum
  • Date: 12th September 2022
  • Summary: EL PASO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WALKING TO HAND THEMSELVES IN TO THE UNITED STATES BORDER PATROL UNITED STATES AND MEXICO FLAGS ON BORDER BRIDGE VENEZUELAN MIGRANT, BRAYAN PINTO, CARRYING HIS DOG, BRANDI CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) PINTO CROSSING RIVER WITH BRANDY IN HIS ARMS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN MIGRANT, BRAYAN PINTO, SAYING: “This little dog I have here is named Brandy. She has been with me for two years, she has even served me as an emotional support dog. Today when we reached the U.S. they told me I need to leave her behind because it cannot cross to the other side with me. They do a lot to help us, they cannot help the puppies too. My aunt is sad as well, we do not know what to do because we do not want to abandon her here. She has been with us through Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, she crossed the Darien jungle – we were there for nine days – and we are here and we do not know what to do, we need your help.” PINTO HANDING BRANDY TO MEXICAN PHOTOGRAPHER, CARLOS SANCHEZ SANCHEZ PETTING BRANDY PINTO CROSSING RIVER BACK TO THE UNITED STATES EL PASO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) U.S. BORDER PATROL VEHICLE MIGRANTS WAITING TO BE DETAINED BY BORDER PATROL CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) VENEZUELAN MIGRANT, JOEL GUEVARA, AND HIS SON WAITING TO CROSS INTO THE UNITED STATES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN MIGRANT, JOEL GUEVARA, SAYING: “My brother crossed and when he passed the fence he handed himself to the immigration authorities. They are supposedly giving humanitarian asylum, the United States government is granting humanitarian asylum. Many people come with that idea, mainly Venezuelans say they have humanitarian asylum.” EL PASO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) GUEVARA AND HIS SON ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) VENEZUELAN MIGRANT, LUIS REYES, TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN MIGRANT, LUIS REYES, SAYING: “The reason why all of those migrants on that side of the border and I am here goes beyond a better future. It goes beyond food, reaching our goals, helping our families with money. Many of us are running away from dictatorships, from crisis. In my case, I live in Venezuela and I am running away from political persecution.” EL PASO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) REYES RUNNING TOWARDS THE UNITED STATES' BORDER BORDER PATROL VEHICLE DRIVING ALONGSIDE FENCE MIGRANTS WALKING TOWARDS THE UNITED STATES' BORDER CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MEXICAN NATIONAL GUARD PATROLLING BORDER
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2022 23:38
  • Keywords: Border Patrol United States Venezuela border dog migration
  • Location: EL PASO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES / CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
  • City: EL PASO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES / CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,South America / Central America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001482112092022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Venezuelan migrant Brayan Pinto, 18, and his small white dog, Brandy, trekked together across several countries and a treacherous tropical jungle to reach the U.S.-Mexico border.
    On Sunday (September 11), the two companions had to say goodbye.
    Pinto said he his pet had been with him for two years as he hugged the fluffy animal with the pink collar - a mix of Pekingese and toy poodle - within view of El Paso, Texas.
    Brandi had been a gift from his mother before her death to become his emotional support pet, and the little dog had crossed several borders with him.
    Authorities in the United States told him he had to leave her in Mexico, Pinto said.
    Before walking alone towards the U.S. border, Pinto recalled their long journey together, including nine days through the notoriously dangerous Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia.
    Then he sadly put Brandy into the arms of a photo journalist who had agreed to take care of her in Mexico, and nestled his face into her curly fur for a final farewell.
    Other Venezuelan migrants also crossed the border between the Mexican city Ciudad Juarez and United States'
    city of El Paso on Sunday to hand themselves in to the U.S. Border Patrol with the hopes of obtaining asylum.
    Migrant Luis Reyes told Reuters he was seeking asylum because he was fleeing from political persecution in Venezuela.
    Mexico received 8,282 asylum applications from Venezuelans between January and August this year, according to the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), the fourth-highest among all nationalities.
    (Production: Jose Luis Gonzalez, Carlos Carrillo, NIna Lopez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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