Fleeing rape, beatings and murder, migrant families find solace at shelter in Mexicali

RAUL ROA LOS ANGELES TIMES JULY 08, 2023 1:00 AM

In a small room with one light bulb and six bunk beds, Jhosseline Estefanie Argeta Morales, 31, of El Salvador sits on a lower bed organizing a small bag of toiletries at Cobina Posada Del Migrante, a shelter for migrant families in Mexicali, Mexico.

Argeta has been at this shelter for four months. The thin, petite woman with light brown hair left her home with her young son nine months ago, fearing that one of the local gangs would force her son to join them.

She said that while El Salvador's populist President Nayib Bukele is cracking down on gangs with massive sweeps and incarceration (which critics say violate human rights), his hard-line approach is driving gang leaders to recruit more young boys.

"I left in fear for his life," she said of her son, in a quiet voice. "I was in Tapachula for five months and now I've been waiting four months here for my CBP One application to be processed," Argeta added, referring to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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