Families divided by U.S.-Mexican border share a 3-minute hug

Record ID: 78192

  • Title: Families divided by U.S.-Mexican border share a 3-minute hug
  • Date: 20th November 2016
  • Summary: TIJUANA CITY, MEXICO (NOVEMBER 19, 2016) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING ALONG WALL THAT DIVIDES TIJUANA IN MEXICO AND SAN DIEGO IN THE UNITED STATES SIGN THAT SHOWS LOCATION OF MEXICAN BORDER FAMILIES TALKING THROUGH BORDER FENCE THREE PEOPLE STANDING ALONG FENCE WITH PAINTED BUTTERFLY TALKING MAN LEANING ON FENCE BORDER PATROL STANDING GUARD WOMAN WALKING ACROSS OPEN FENCE AND HUGGING MOTHER AS CHILD LOOKS ON VARIOUS OF FAMILY HUGGING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SOCORRO MARTINEZ, WOMAN FROM PUEBLA MEXICO WHO IS REUNITING WITH HER DAUGHTER AND GRAND-DAUGHTER, SAYING: "I didn't expect to be able to hug her. I just thought I would see her just through here (the fence) so it was very nice. I didn't imagine that. I'm very happy." BORDER GUARDS LOOKING ON VARIOUS OF FAMILY HUGGING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HUGO CASTRO, MEMBER OF BORDER ANGELS, SAYING: "We can't give President Donald Trump that luxury of showing ourselves as vulnerable. We have to fight hate and fear with love and hope and good will." CHILD WALKING TO FENCE AS GUARDS LOOK ON VARIOUS OF CHILD AND FAMILY HUGGING FAMILY WALKING AWAY AFTER HUGGING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MARTA LETICIA CASTANEDA, REPRESENTATIVE OF TIJUANA MAYOR, SAYING: "We did this precisely because of the United States' president-elect's (Donald Trump) victory and it is a way so that today the president-elect see what we have done in three years, that he see this disintegration of families, that there are families who have gone ten or fifteen years without hugging their children." GUARDS CLOSING DOOR VARIOUS OF FENCE
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2016 06:20
  • Keywords: migrants border fence hug families Trump
  • Location: TIJUANA CITY, MEXICO
  • City: TIJUANA CITY, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001598YHD1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:It was an emotional day along the Tijuana-San Diego border on Saturday (November 20) as families separated by the border lined up for a chance to hug their relatives.
    Every Sunday, families in Tijuana come to this park, known as "The Park of Friendship," on the beach to see and touch their loved ones though a thick steel wall.
    It is the only place along the entire border where these meetings are allowed.
    Many of those who come here and are living in the U.S. side without documents. If they visit Mexico, their status would make it difficult for them to return to their homes in the United States.
    But on Saturday, the Border Angels group coordinated with the U.S. border patrol to open the door and allow families to hug and talk.
    The act was so brief that only six families were able to participate in the so-called "Opening the Door of Hope."
    But for them, it was wonderful.
    "I didn't expect to be able to hug her. I just thought I would see her just through here (the fence) so it was very nice. I didn't imagine that. I'm very happy," said Puebla resident Socorro Martinez who hugged her daughter and grand-daughter.
    This is the second time the event was held this year but this time, it is in direct response to the election victory of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
    "We can't give President Donald Trump that luxury of showing ourselves as vulnerable. We have to fight hate and fear with love and hope and good will," said Border Angel Hugo Castro.
    Trump, who takes office in January, campaigned on deporting undocumented migrants and building a wall between the two nations.
    "We did this precisely because of the United States' president-elect's (Donald Trump) victory and it is a way so that today the president-elect see what we have done in three years, that he see this disintegration of families, that there are families who have gone ten or fifteen years without hugging their children," said Marta Leticia Castaneda of the Tijuana Mayor's Office.
    The Border Angels said they would continue to advocate for undocumented migrants and hope to organize more events like this in the coming year.
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