El Paso Bishop Condemns U.S., Mexico Immigration Policy as He Escorts Family Across Bridge

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico - Under a scorching sun, El Paso Bishop Mark. J. Seitz prayed for migrants at the foot of an international bridge and accompanied an Honduran family seeking asylum to the U.S.The Thursday appearance was aimed at bringing attention to the controversial and expanded Remain in Mexico policy, which requires that immigrants wait for days or weeks south of the border while waiting to be summoned by U.S. officials to be screened for asylum.Overall, more than 15,000 Central American asylum applicants have been forced to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed in the U.S.The bishop, accompanied by a Mexican priest and surrounded by a crush of media, escorted the Honduran couple with their three children up to Customs Border Protection officers to make a claim for asylum.Both religious leaders condemned their governments for putting the lives of migrants in greater danger. Juarez has an extraordinarily high murder rate and drug dealers and smugglers are reportedly preying on newly arrived immigrants.  Continue reading...