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Migrants in limbo at US and Mexican border cities

Migrants in limbo at US and Mexican border cities

File photo: us-mexico migrants

About 100 migrants from Central America are in limbo at American and Mexican border cities, awaiting their fate after applying for USasylum.

In El Paso, Texas, these migrant families spent their Christmas with local charity The Home Border Institute. The charity is working with these families on their rights and on the asylum process ahead, which could take some months.

On the Mexican side of the border in Ciudad Juarez, shelters are full, with migrants having to sleep on the floor in wintery conditions.

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A local fire station is being used to temporarily house some migrant families.

USPresident Donald Trump has sought to make it harder to get asylum, claiming criminals are among the migrant group. But a federal court has placed a temporary restraining order on his policy which only allowed for asylum claims that were made at official ports of entry.

Under former President Barack Obama, a system dubbed "metering" began which limits how many applicants can ask for asylum each day in Tijuana. Lawyers say Trump is using the system more aggressively to stem the flow at the port of entry.