Mexico: Asylum seekers face daily threats to their health and safety

When Elizabeth* was pregnant, she decided to cross the border by swimming across the Rio Grande. When she was captured by the United States border patrol, she went into labor and gave birth to Carlos*. Two days later they were both deported to Mexico with instructions to wait for their asylum application process in Mexico. (*Names have been changed.)

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco

MSF doctor, Mercedes, performs a postnatal care consultation on Carlos* at the tent where his family used to live. They left the camp after attempting to cross the Rio Grande, and now rent a small house in the city. However, medical care can only be received in the camp, so they have returned for Carlos’ check-up. (*Name has been changed.)

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco

MSF staff run a health promotion talk in our clinic in the center of the camp. The talks focus on topics including sexual and reproductive health, prevention of COVID-19, dengue fever, and mental health. They are organized for small groups of people in order to maintain social distance.

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco

A family seeking asylum eats breakfast in the Matamoros camp. This is a familiar scene in the camp: groups of people sitting together, passing time while they wait to hear about their asylum applications in the United States, which have been put on hold indefinitely.

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco

To ward off boredom and protect themselves from the intense heat, children often sleep in their tents during the day.

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco

For more than a year, families have lived in these tents. In crowded conditions like this, measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19—such as maintaining social distancing—are impossible to implement.

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco

Throughout the camp, families have improvised ways to protect their tents. They use materials, such as plastic bags or old blankets, to protect themselves from strong winds, rain, and intense sunlight.

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco

An asylum seeker washes his clothes at one of the water points in the camp. These points are refilled up to four times a day, especially when the temperature rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco

Asylum seekers collect cleaning products, such as bleach, disinfectant, and detergent, once a week to clean the areas where they live and try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco

Because of the pandemic, there are no activities to entertain children. There are no schools either. Children help their families by collecting firewood, which is distributed daily, and chop it before mealtimes.

Mexico 2020 © MSF/Arlette Blanco