US reverses course, allows Ukrainian family to seek asylum

TIJUANA, Mexico: US authorities allowed a Ukrainian girl and her three kids to hunt asylum Thursday, a reversal from a day earlier when she was denied entry underneath the Biden administration’s sweeping restrictions for in search of humanitarian safety.
The 34-year-old girl and her kids — ages 14, 12 and 6 — entered San Diego for processing after authorities blocked her path hours earlier, triggering sharp criticism from Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer and different Democrats.
Blaine Bookey, authorized director of the Middle for Gender & Refugee Research, was returning to San Diego Wednesday from Tijuana, the place she was serving to Haitian migrants. She noticed the Ukrainian girl crying together with her kids, wanting “very uncomfortable” with a reporter “in her face.”
Bookey’s tweets and media protection sparked renewed criticism of a Trump-era order to disclaim individuals an opportunity to hunt asylum underneath an order to forestall unfold of COVID-19 referred to as Title 42 authority.
Schumer raised the Ukrainian girl’s case as he known as for an finish to make use of of Title 42, which the Biden administration has defended as well being dangers from COVID-19 have subsided.
“They requested refuge in one of many ports of entry on our southern border, however have been turned away due to Title 42,” Schumer mentioned on a convention name with reporters. “This isn’t who we’re as a rustic. Persevering with this Trump-era coverage has defied frequent sense and customary decency.”
US Customs and Border Safety didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Thursday. Migrants have been expelled greater than 1.6 million instances since Title 42 was launched in March 2020.
The Ukrainian girl, who recognized herself to reporters solely as Sofiia, tried coming into the US in a automobile with a relative this week however was blocked, Bookey mentioned. One other try on foot Wednesday was additionally stopped however Bookey discovered her earlier than she returned to her Tijuana lodge to attend for information.
Erika Pinheiro, litigation and coverage director for Al Otro Lado advocacy group, mentioned she received a name from CBP early Thursday, telling the lady to pack her luggage and be prepared on brief discover. She was advised to return hours later.
“She’s simply been very stoic for her youngsters and I feel she let herself get emotional,” Bookey mentioned.
The lady left Ukraine together with her kids Feb. 27 as mates warned her that Russia may invade. She went to Moldova, Romania and Mexico, arriving in Tijuana on Monday. She plans to settle with household within the San Francisco space and search asylum.
The lady pulled a small crimson suitcase and carried a pink backpack patterned with tiny canine as she walked into the US together with her 6-year-old daughter beside her and her older kids behind.
Mexico accepts residents from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who’re expelled underneath Title 42 authority. Individuals of different nationalities are topic to expulsion however many are launched in the USA to hunt asylum because of difficulties flying them house. They have to be on US soil to assert safety, although, and authorities typically block their path.
Hundreds of Russians have sought asylum at San Diego border crossings in current months after flying to Mexico. Individuals from Ukraine and different former Soviet republics use the identical route however in a lot decrease numbers. In January, 248 Ukrainians crossed the US-Mexico border, with three out of 4 in San Diego.
A 27-year-old Ukrainian who requested to be recognized solely as Kristina was left behind on the Mexican facet of the border Thursday together with her fiancé, a US citizen. She mentioned she had been residing in Kyiv when the preventing began.
“It was so scary,” Kristina mentioned. “We simply wakened and there was bombing. We by no means anticipated this.”
Kristina fled to Poland however motels and flats have been full. She flew to Mexico the place her fiancé was attempting to assist her get into the US They spent hours ready on the border.
“They don’t take heed to us,” she mentioned.
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Related Press writers Ben Fox in Washington and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed.