Children are held in US-Mexico border camps. What exactly are these camps?

On Wednesday, a federal district court ruled that children who are forced to survive in open-air camps on the borders of US-Mexico should actually be provided with sanitary and safe housing at the earliest. What are these camps along the US-Mexico borders in which children are languishing?

For months, many activists have raised the concern over the fact that migrants, including children, are starving from hunger and dehydration, and are suffering from illnesses, and injuries. These migrants are languishing in outdoor areas along the US-Mexico border. Such open holding areas do not have the right sanitation, food, or shelter to survive. 

The camps

The procedure for getting asylum in the United States is that the ones who are expecting the asylum are supposed to present to the border patrol agents prior to the processing at the immigration centers. It is at these immigration centers that these immigrants are given background checks and medical screenings. Once all these checks are done, the legal process of claiming the asylum begins.

Now, it is important to note that the processing centers are currently overwhelmed. Due to this, agents have sent people to wait at such camps along the borders. Children too have been compelled to wait along these camps. These camps are constructed of tents, rocks, scavenged wood, and tarp. With time, many camps have been set up along the California-Mexico border. One of the camps is situated between the two border fences located in San Diego. Another camp is situated in the remote mountainous areas near San Diego.

Now, it is important to note that climatic situations are not favorable for people living in such camps. Overnight temperatures, for instance, in the high desert of San Diego fell below 30F. There were not many ways available to people taking shelter under these camps to keep warm under such extreme conditions. Many say that children are residing inside portable toilets to protect themselves from the extreme cold.

How do families survive at these conditions?

Many young families make long journeys to reach to the United States in search of asylum at the border. Many such families are running away from violence, climatic disasters, poverty, and more.

As per the norm, children who are travelling these long distances alone must be handed over to the United States Health and human services department in the time frame of 72 hours. They then need to be cared for until they reach the legal age. However, at the US border, many children have waited at the camps for days before their cases are begun to be processed.