Sen. Ron Wyden Escorts 8 1/2 Months Pregnant Mexican Woman and Her Family Across Border Into US
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) posted a video Saturday bragging about how he had escorted an eight-and-a-half months pregnant migrant from Mexico into the U.S. because the woman allegedly was having a difficult pregnancy. Wyden does not tell viewers that the woman is a Mexican citizen and that she brought her husband and 3-year-old son with her across the border. Apparently there are no competent maternity hospitals in Mexico.
Wyden said he was touring a migrant facility in Juarez, Mexico accompanied by a doctor who diagnosed a pregnant Mexican woman seeking asylum in the U.S. as having a potentially fatal condition. Wyden brought the woman to a border checkpoint and talked his way past the guards.
“I went across the border into Juarez, Mexico to tour a shelter housing asylum seekers being forced to stay in Mexico instead of the U.S. while they wait to hear if they’ve been granted asylum. They are fleeing persecution and violence, seeking a better life for their families.”
“While across the border, I met a young woman who was seeking refuge in the U.S., who was more than 8 months pregnant.”
“There were concerns she had serious medical complications that were life-threatening to her & her unborn baby. She tried to get across the border but was denied until it became clear to law enforcement that I was accompanying her. She was taken to a hospital to get care.”
“It shouldn’t have to take being escorted by a U.S. Senator to get asylum seekers and migrants to safety in the United States. After my time in Juarez, I’m reflecting on the hundreds — perhaps thousands — of women just like her who are unable to get the medical care they need.”
“The Trump administration is treating children & their families at the border like they’re dangerous criminals, keeping them in conditions not fit for any person. Make no mistake: when I return to Washington, I will be fighting to put an end to these life-threatening policies.”
I went across the border into Juarez, Mexico to tour a shelter housing asylum seekers being forced to stay in Mexico instead of the U.S. while they wait to hear if they've been granted asylum. They are fleeing persecution and violence, seeking a better life for their families. pic.twitter.com/730QQSFhiz— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 27, 2019
While across the border, I met a young woman who was seeking refuge in the U.S., who was more than 8 months pregnant. pic.twitter.com/kkRoPXvDrK— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 27, 2019
While across the border, I met a young woman who was seeking refuge in the U.S., who was more than 8 months pregnant. pic.twitter.com/kkRoPXvDrK— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 27, 2019
It shouldn’t have to take being escorted by a U.S. Senator to get asylum seekers and migrants to safety in the United States. After my time in Juarez, I’m reflecting on the hundreds — perhaps thousands — of women just like her who are unable to get the medical care they need. pic.twitter.com/X0mk1iJr6q— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 27, 2019
The Trump administration is treating children & their families at the border like they’re dangerous criminals, keeping them in conditions not fit for any person. Make no mistake: when I return to Washington, I will be fighting to put an end to these life-threatening policies.— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) July 27, 2019
Reporter Bob Moore provided the background on the woman’s story missing from Wyden, that the woman is Mexican and that she brought her family with her.
An 8 1/2-month pregnant Mexican woman and her family went to an El Paso-Ciudad Juárez bridge Saturday to make an asylum claim. @CBP officer Loya said, “We’re full.” Then Sen. @RonWyden stepped forward and intervened. My story for @WashingtonPost. 1/ https://t.co/YRovgmCpsC— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) July 28, 2019
The metering process that limits asylum access excludes Mexicans and pregnant women. @CBP says the officer would have acted differently if they told him their nationality. But the family presented him with a folder that included their Mexican birth certificates and IDs. 2/ pic.twitter.com/A7Jd5yPz1G— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) July 28, 2019
The family met @RonWyden when he toured a Juarez migrant shelter Saturday. Dr. Lauren Herbert, an Oregon pediatrician traveling with Wyden, became alarmed that the woman’s condition might threaten her life and that of her baby. 3/ pic.twitter.com/y8Qy8yGLn3— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) July 28, 2019
El Paso immigration lawyer @TaylorKLevy suggested that Wyden escort the family to the Paso del Norte Bridge to press their asylum claim and seek medical help. “That’s what we’re going to do,” he said. 4/ pic.twitter.com/dZg4ABpux5— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) July 28, 2019
The family met @RonWyden when he toured a Juarez migrant shelter Saturday. Dr. Lauren Herbert, an Oregon pediatrician traveling with Wyden, became alarmed that the woman’s condition might threaten her life and that of her baby. 3/ pic.twitter.com/y8Qy8yGLn3— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) July 28, 2019
At the top of the bridge, @CBP officer Castro told Wyden staffers and me that we couldn’t take pictures or video. @ShawDrake1 of @ACLU_BRC told the officer he was wrong and told us to keep recording. Castro asked if he could photograph us. We said sure. He didn't. 5/ pic.twitter.com/HCXOrVY9I8— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) July 28, 2019
After @RonWyden intervened, the family was allowed to go to the port of entry and begin the asylum process. @CBP officials promised him the mother would be taken to a hospital. The family’s status is unclear at the moment. 6/ pic.twitter.com/1FGGv2NBTX— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) July 28, 2019
Apparently Moore did not ask Wyden why the woman could not be treated in a Mexican hospital.