Seeking asylum at the US border
On a new episode of The Take podcast, Al Jazeera journalists discuss why the words we choose to tell stories matter.
Thousands of Central Americans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico to begin the long wait to apply for asylum in the United States. Thousands more are following behind.
Many are fleeing poverty, violence and political persecution.
“This is the best option we have,” Jonatan Alvarado, a 45-year-old from San Marcos, El Salvador, told Al Jazeera on Sunday as he set off for the US.
As the number of people at the border increases daily, US President Donald Trump maintains a “zero tolerance” immigration policy and has deployed thousands of US troops to the southern border.
Who are the people seeking refuge in the US? And why do the words used to describe the collective exodus matter? In a new episode of The Take podcast, Al Jazeera correspondent Heidi Zhou-Castro calls in from Tijuana, and former senior online editor Barry Malone explains why the word “migrant” doesn’t tell the whole story.
Learn more:
More asylum seekers arrive at border as US expands military power
New migrant caravans form as initial groups arrive at US border
Mexico: Migrant caravan comes to a halt in Tijuana near US border
More on the US-Mexico border
The Team:
Morgan Waters produced this episode. She had production help from Kyana Moghadam, Jasmin Bauomy, Jordan Marie Bailey and Imtiaz Tyab. The show’s lead producer is Graelyn Brashear. The sound designer was Ian Coss.
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