Mexico (AP) — After fleeing violence in their Guatemalan town, but with their way to relatives in California blocked by continuing U.S. asylum restrictions, a family of 15 joinasaaevening service in the Buen Samaritano shelter’s small Methodist church, which doubles as cafeteria, didn’t quite compare with the weekslong Christmas celebrations they had loved in Nueva Concepcion. Those included fireworks, tamales made with freshly slaughtered pig and shared door-to-door with family, and villagers carrying aloft a statue of the Virgin Mary from the Catholic church to different homes each day, singing all the way.“It’s difficult to leave those traditions behind, but they had to be abandoned at any rate,” said Marlon Cruz, 25, who had been a yucca and plantain farmer in Guatemala. “When you go from house to house and hear shots, because of that we would stay locked up at home.”Tens of thousands of migrants who fled violence and poverty in their home countries are spending Christmas in crowded shelters or on the streets of Mexican border towns, where organized crime routinely targets them. It’s especially cold for those living outdoors, as winter temperatures have dropped across much of the United States and across the border.Man commits suicide at Jehovah’s Witnesses center in ColoradoKing Charles greets the late Queen and her associates with a speechSome Ukrainians prefer Christmas to saying goodbye to RussiaPope’s Complaint:The cold winds of war hit mankind at ChristmasThe Biden administration this week asked the Supreme Court not to lift pandemic-era restrictions on asylum seekers before the holidays. A lower court had already granted the government’s request to stay until December 21 before the restrictions known as Title 42 were lifted. This restriction has been used more than 2.5 million times to deport asylum seekers who entered the United States illegally, with most asylum seekers being kicked out at the border.It’s unclear when the court will decide. It is also considering asking groups of states to maintain measures as immigration numbers reach unprecedented numbers. In recent weeks, a record number of people have been broken, arrested, or released undiscovered in El Paso, Texas.In response, the Texas National Guard will be deployed to the downtown border this week and will remain there until Christmas, Sergeant Suzanne Ringle said.screenThe city’s emergency shelters are already overcrowded, leaving little time for celebrations and many migrants to camp on the streets in freezing temperatures. At one such camp this week, El Paso’s 25-year-old Danielle Morgan showed up wearing a Santa hat, green sweater, ribbons and stockings in hopes of “spreading smiles.” . .”It’s really complicated stuff. I’m no expert,” Mr. Morgan said as he handed out about 100 candies made with his mix of Sam’s Club Cookies to immigrants. “Christ came into the world to give Himself to us. To me, that’s the only reason I came down to give others what I have.”
