For months, the liberal media have made it seem as though the only thing standing between them and their hopes for asylum was Trump’s cruelty, especially when they stormed the border wall. This was all, despite the fact that the parameters for granting asylum were narrowly tailored. During Thursday’s CBS Evening News, correspondent Adriana Diaz interviewed a young man from the spring caravan who was actually persecuted in Honduras and was granted asylum last month.
Diaz spoke with teenager Edgar Reyes. He told U.S. officials that he was beaten by Honduras police forces at political protests and had the evidence to prove it. "A government representative said I received asylum because I had proof of persecution, presenting over 400 pages of evidence,” he explained to her.
“I’m happy to be in a safe place. And to be in a country where my rights are respected,” he said.
Elaborating on Reyes’s harrowing journey to the U.S., Diaz reported:
He was one of the estimated 1500 people in the migrant caravan that moved through Mexico this spring. That journey spanned two months and more than 2,000 miles, mostly on foot. He says he survived a kidnapping attempt and three days on a Mexican freight train so dangerous, it's known as "The Beast”.
“When he finally reached the border, he asked for asylum and was detained for five months while his case was processed. He received asylum on October 15,” she added. Translating for Reyes, Diaz told viewers: “Every day, I thought was my last … I was worried about dying from exhaustion or dehydration or cold because we had to sleep in parks.”
Reyes was added by a group that assists LGBTQ people through the immigration process. For him, “they flew him to New York, helped him get shelter, and his Social Security card.” Diaz also joined Reyes as he went to apply for his work permit (Click “expand” to read):
DIAZ: As a refugee, he's eligible for a work permit and we were with him the day of his appointment. Do you feel nervous before this meeting?
[Diaz translating for Reyes] "Yes," he told us, "Because I don't know how it's going to be."
He came out after 10 minutes and said his work permit should be ready in a few months. How do you feel?
[Diaz translating for Reyes] "I feel happy because this is one more step, and there are more great things to come."
He says his next step is finding a job and going to school.
In contrast to Reyes, a Washington Examiner report detailed how an MS-13 gang member admitted to infiltrating the latest caravan to get to U.S./Mexico border. “Jose Villalobos-Jobel of Honduras was arrested on Nov. 24, after being spotted standing on the U.S. side of the border east of the port of entry in Calexico, Calif,” Anna Giaritelli wrote. “Customs and Border Protection said Villalobos-Jobel admitted to being from Honduras and an active gang member of Mara Salvatrucha 13, or MS-13, a transnational criminal organization.”
Reyes went through the process, met the qualifications, and appeared grateful to be in the United States. That’s what legal immigration looks like and how the system is supposed to work.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
November 29, 2018
6:40:24 p.m. Eastern [2 minutes 46 seconds]JEFF GLOR: No criminal charges will be filed against the 42 migrants arrested Sunday for charging the U.S. border from Tijuana, Mexico, the Associated Press reports today. The associated press reports today. More than 7,000 Central American migrants are camped out at the border in conditions that are rapidly going downhill. The migrants hope to beat long odds to be granted asylum in the U.S. Adriana Diaz met one of three from a caravan last spring who got in.
[Cuts to video]
EDAR REYES [via on-screen translation]: I’m happy to be in a safe place. And to be in a country where my rights are respected.
ADRIANA DIAZ: 19-year-old Edgar Reyes says he was persecuted by police in Honduras, who he claims beat him at political protests. He was one of the estimated 1500 people in the migrant caravan that moved through Mexico this spring. That journey spanned two months and more than 2,000 miles, mostly on foot. He says he survived a kidnapping attempt and three days on a Mexican freight train so dangerous, it's known as "The Beast”.
When he finally reached the border, he asked for asylum and was detained for five months while his case was processed. He received asylum on October 15. Show me the paper. This document from the judge granted his asylum.
[Diaz translating for Reyes] "This paper means everything to me. It represents a lot of sweat, tears, hunger, and suffering."
According to organizers, of the original 1500-strong group, only three so far have received asylum, including Reyes. Why do you think you're one of so few who was granted asylum?
[Diaz translating for Reyes] "A government representative said I received asylum because I had proof of persecution, presenting over 400 pages of evidence."
An organization for LGBTQ immigrants, called Q Dept, flew him to New York, helped him get shelter, and his social security card. But his mind is still fixed on the migrants currently making the journey.
[Diaz translating for Reyes] "Every day, I thought was my last," he said. "I was worried about dying from exhaustion or dehydration or cold because we had to sleep in parks."
As a refugee, he's eligible for a work permit and we were with him the day of his appointment. Do you feel nervous before this meeting?
[Diaz translating for Reyes] "Yes," he told us, "Because I don't know how it's going to be."
He came out after 10 minutes and said his work permit should be ready in a few months. How do you feel?
[Diaz translating for Reyes] "I feel happy because this is one more step, and there are more great things to come."
He says his next step is finding a job and going to school. Adriana Diaz, CBS News, New York.
