AFRICA/GUINEA - The number of Guineans who seek to enter the US from Mexico increases

Wednesday, 31 August 2016 migrants  

Conakry (Agenzia Fides) - The US border authorities have in recent months registered an increase of emigrants of the Republic of Guinea who try to enter through the land border with Mexico. The phenomenon is related to the presence of Guinean communities who have been in the United States for a long time, and by getting information from these communities that the Ambassador of Guinea in Washington, Mamady Condé, was able to get information on how these migrants arrive at the border between Mexico and USA.
Africans, mostly Guineans but also from other West African countries, travel by plane to Brazil. From there they undertake the journey, crossing up to 11 Latin American countries, towards Mexico and then try to enter the US.
"In Mexico, some Guinean asylum seekers are detained", said Mamady Condé. "The same happens in American prison, where several of our fellow citizens are being held for drug trafficking, credit card fraud, even illegal possession of weapons". According to the Ambassador, there are 2,141 Guineans who have had to deal with US justice. 400 have been expelled of whom 60 are considered dangerous for having made use of firearms.
The Guinean Ambassador suggested the American authorities to grant permission for long-term residence to deal with illegal immigration. "With a visa for 10 years, it is very likely that a person goes backwards and forwards between the US and Guinea and does not stay on American territory on a permanent basis", he concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 31/08/2016)


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