Immigration Reform: Policy vs Humanity

At a moment when the Biden Administration is still grappling with COVID-19 and the challenges of the economic recovery, their political will seems to remain steadfast in overhauling the nation’s immigration system. It’s a daunting task many before him have faced to ultimately be defeated by the realities of what is now a very sensitive subject for politicians and also for voters after four years of the very divisive rhetoric and hardline approach of the Trump administration.

Yami Virgin investigates an immigration policy change that has resulted in criminals scheduled for ICE deportation to be released from jails and free to go where they choose.

It has been two years since we started traveling down and reporting from the border between Panama and Columbia, an area called the Darién Gap. It is one of the worse jungles in the world. Sixty miles that people travel by foot with their children. Many times, not having water, not having food, their feet being torn up because of the dangerous trek. Many people don’t even have an idea what their getting themselves into – until it is too late.

In this episode of ‘Immigration Reform: Policy vs Humanity’ investigative reporter Yami Virgin follows the journey of these migrants.

An uncontrollable surge of migrants coming through the U.S. / Mexico border illegally. This week investigative reporter Yami Virgin talks with a news producer working on the other side of the border.

We can’t reveal her name. Why? Because Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist. This young woman has been assisting us for several years.

She tells us why she does this in the face of such extreme danger.

Video showed migrant children and an older woman drowning in the Rio Grande this week as they tried to get away from border patrol agents. Investigative Reporter Yami Virgin spoke to Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), not just about this incident, but also the overall surge of migrants at the border right now.”

Cuellar, whose district extends from the Rio Grande to San Antonio's suburbs, says incidents like these are what he and others are trying to prevent by sending out a clear message to migrants headed this way not to come.

The man who shot the video claims the agents did nothing to save the drowning migrants.

Cuellar says this is also to blame on the cartels who are making money smuggling people across.

"The criminal organizations are actively marketing people the more people they get the more money they make they charge from $4,000 to $8,000, depending on who they are bringing across.”

We asked border patrol about the claim that agents didn’t help.

“On March 16, 2021, Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Laredo Sector identified a vehicle suspected to be involved in alien smuggling activity. The vehicle drove to the area of Calton Road near the bank of the Rio Grande at which time several occupants of the vehicle fled into the river towards Mexico. Others were taken into custody at the vehicle. One individual who entered the river drowned and was recovered by Mexican authorities. A second was last seen floating away and has not been located. This incident is under review by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility.” - U.S. Customs and Border Protection