Today, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS/USA), in conjunction with JRS Mexico, released “Accompaniment at the U.S. – Mexico Border,” a report on the conditions at the U.S. – Mexico Border. In this report, with information sourced from interviews and visits to shelters in Ciudad Juárez and El Paso in summer 2023, JRS/USA and JRS Mexico present a snapshot of current conditions and how U.S. policies adversely impact protection, mental health, and public health challenges. 

“In accompanying those seeking asylum at the border, we bear witness to the inhumane treatment they endure every day.” said Joan Rosenhauer, President of JRS/USA. “We must enact policies that provide pathways to safety and security instead of the current system that perpetuates danger to those forced to flee home.” 

JRS’s binational humanitarian response ensures that those who journey to and arrive at the U.S. – Mexico border seeking protection are welcomed with dignity and treated with respect. 

“Impractical and restrictive laws required use of the CBP One App, and limited funding for critical services are just some of the challenges asylum seekers face at the U.S. – Mexico border,” said Giulia McPherson, JRS/USA’s Vice President of Advocacy and Operations. “We need our policymakers to enact reforms that provide access to regular, safe, and orderly migration.” 

The full report can be found on the JRS/USA website as well as more information on Caminar Contigo, JRS/USA and JRS Mexico’s Binational Border Response Program.