Imagine — if You Can — the Desperate Plight of Refugees at Our Southern Border, Part 1

Jessica Clark • September 28, 2021


Imagine leaving everything behind, walking miles in all kinds of weather from your home country in Central America, through mountains and deserts, hitching a ride atop a train, hungry or thirsty. Your only possessions are the clothes you are wearing and maybe what you can carry in a tattered backpack. You haven’t bathed or changed your clothes for days or weeks depending upon the distance. You are faced with a staggering array of threats from thieves or rapists, as well as with hunger, loneliness, and death. Some pay a “coyote” thousands of dollars to supposedly bring them safely to the U.S. border, only to be abandoned. You’ve braved everything in order to escape to seek asylum, buoyed by a dream of a better life for your family and by the hope that with the new United States administration, your dreams will be realized.

 

Imagine sending your child or children alone along those treacherous routes so they wouldn’t be recruited into a gang, become trafficking victims, or experience other violence. Termed “unaccompanied,” in fiscal year 2020, more than 76,000 minors from Central America were apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Mexico detained about 41,000 underage migrants. Children interviewed said they knew the trip was dangerous and if they were caught they could end up in overcrowded, dirty facilities on both sides of the border, without adequate food, water, or health care. But they took their chances anyway to escape dead-end poverty, violence, and lack of opportunities to study or work.

 

Imagine leaving your wife and children and carrying your nine-year-old daughter over 1,500 miles from Honduras to a U.S. port of entry in South Texas, seeking to escape violence and get medical care for your daughter. Luis’ daughter, Dayana, (not their real names) weighs about 66 pounds and was born with spina bifida, a birth defect which affects her ability to walk and hold herself up. She suffers from convulsions, has a catheter and other ailments including fluid in the brain, and needs surgery.

 

Imagine attempting to cross and being turned away at the border three times and being turned away due to a little-known provision of U.S. health law. The former administration invoked section 265 of U.S. Code Title 42 to achieve its goal of shutting the border; this section permits the Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to prohibit the introduction of individuals into the U.S. when the Director believes that “there is serious danger of the introduction of [a communicable] disease into the United States.” On his third attempt, Luis paid smugglers the last of his money, they boarded a raft with two dozen other migrants, and floated across the Rio Grande River into Brownsville, Tex. After being fingerprinted and rejected a third time, they were returned to Reynosa, Mexico where they live with approximately 700 other asylum seekers still living on the streets in makeshift tents with no running water or sewerage, a crime-ridden area laced with cartel activity, kidnappings, and violence typical of South American countries.

 

A March 2020 U.S. Department of State report states: “In Honduras, there are an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 gang members of an approximate population of ten million people… gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime… violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras.”

 

Imagine the desperation, the fear, and the courage of the thousands of asylum seekers continuing to make the journey from Central America’s Northern Triangle — Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras — living on Mexican streets near the U.S. border because shelters are filled, and being afraid to leave, hoping this administration will allow them to seek asylum in the United States.

 

Sources:

“Backlog at U.S. immigration courts getting worse, new research finds,” Border Report, Sandra Sanchez, June 15, 2021.

https://www.borderreport.com/hot-topics/immigration/backlog-at-u-s-immigration-courts-getting-worse-new-research-finds/

 

“Migrant encounters at U.S.-Mexico border are at a 21-year high,” Pew Research Center, John Gramlich, Aug. 13, 2021.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/08/13/migrant-encounters-at-u-s-mexico-border-are-at-a-21-year-high/

 

“Detentions of Child Migrants at the U.S. Border Surges to Record Levels,” The New York Times, Pauline Villegas, Nov. 5, 2019.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/world/americas/unaccompanied-minors-border-crossing.html

 

“Disabled migrant girl whose father carried her most of the journey from Honduras allowed to seek care in U.S.,” Border Report, Sandra Sanchez, May 10, 2021.

https://www.borderreport.com/hot-topics/immigration/disabled-migrant-girl-whose-father-carried-her-most-of-the-journey-from-honduras-allowed-to-seek-care-in-u-s/

 

“Photo of Drowned Migrants Captures Pathos of Those Who Risk It All,” The New York Times, Azam Ahmed and Kirk Semple, June 25, 2019.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/us/father-daughter-border-drowning-picture-mexico.html

 

 

Jessica Clark is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Journalism. After a 30-year career as a Public Information Specialist and photojournalist for several federal government agencies in Washington, D.C., she retired to Georgetown, Delaware. She restored former Governor John Collins’ 1790s home on Collins Pond, volunteers for and promotes several nonprofits in local newspapers, teaches English as a Second Language in James H. Groves Adult High School, and is a Sussex County Master Gardener. 

 

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore

Health of His Constituents is Apparently Not a Priority for Rep. Dr. Andy Harris

By Jan Plotczyk • October 8, 2025
The Republican Congress and President Trump are causing a health care crisis and Democrats are trying to fix it. Passed in July, the GOP budget reconciliation bill is drastically cutting health insurance programs to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Rep. Andrew P. Harris (R-MD01) voted for the budget reconciliation bill. He voted, knowing that his vote would mean that health care costs would rise for 25,000 of his constituents in Maryland’s First Congressional District:

Judge Denies Trump Administration’s Attempt to Stall Maryland Offshore Wind Case Amid Federal Shutdown

By CSES Staff • October 8, 2025
 Efforts by the Trump administration to delay a critical court case over Maryland’s offshore wind project have failed, marking another setback in the president’s campaign to block renewable energy development along the East Coast. On Oct. 2, U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher denied a motion filed by the Department of Justice to pause an ongoing lawsuit involving US Wind’s proposed 114-turbine wind farm off Ocean City. The administration had argued that the federal government’s shutdown prevents its attorneys from continuing the case. The judge’s swift rejection ensures that the litigation and progress on one of Maryland’s most significant clean energy projects will continue. Initially filed by Ocean City officials and a small group of residents nearly a year ago, the suit challenges the federal approval of US Wind’s project, which would deliver enough clean electricity to power more than 700,000 homes. Under the Biden administration, the federal government had defended the project in partnership with US Wind. That stance was reversed after Trump took office earlier this year and installed officials hostile to offshore wind. In September, the Trump administration filed a separate motion seeking to vacate federal approval for the Maryland project altogether, a move widely condemned by environmental advocates, labor groups, and business leaders who see offshore wind as a cornerstone of Maryland’s energy and economic future. US Wind responded forcefully to the shutdown motion, warning the court that the administration’s attempts to delay proceedings could allow it to undermine the project’s approval behind the scenes quietly. The company argued that halting the case would create “existential risks” for the future of Maryland’s offshore wind industry. Judge Gallagher agreed that the case should move forward, setting the next status hearing for Oct. 7. The Trump administration’s repeated efforts to obstruct offshore wind development come as Maryland and other states have invested heavily in building the infrastructure, workforce, and port facilities needed to anchor the growing clean energy industry. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has championed the sector as a key driver for well-paying jobs and long-term economic resilience for the Eastern Shore. Supporters of US Wind point out that the project will bring over $1 billion in investment to Maryland, generate thousands of construction and maintenance jobs, and help deliver cleaner, more affordable energy to homes and businesses across the region. “Offshore wind isn’t just about turbines, it’s about jobs, innovation, and independence,” one clean energy advocate said after the ruling. “Every delay costs working Marylanders opportunity, and this decision ensures progress continues.” While the broader lawsuit over the project’s approval is ongoing, the latest ruling represents a clear win for those fighting to keep Maryland’s offshore wind future on track — and a blow to Trump’s attempt to turn back the clock on clean energy.

Should We Pin Our Hopes on Mid-Cycle Redistricting in MD-01?

By Jan Plotczyk • October 8, 2025
Maryland has eight congressional districts, and the seats for all but District 01 are filled by Democrats. As we well know, the First District representative is a Republican — Andrew P. Harris. Here’s what Maryland’s congressional district map is now.

Megan Outten Kicks Off Wicomico County Council District 7 Campaign with Packed Crowd and Strong Early Momentum

By CSES Staff • October 8, 2025
With standing room only at Salisbury’s Historic Poplar Hill Mansion, and blending policy, community service, and grassroots energy, Megan Outten launched her campaign for Wicomico County Council District 7 before almost 100 supporters on Oct. 4. The event drew community residents, labor leaders, and local officials, many of whom also helped to pack nearly 300 care kits for Wicomico residents in need. The community service effort doubled as a campaign statement about what Outten calls “choosing connection over convenience.” District 7 is one of Wicomico’s newly drawn single-member districts, with a Democratic advantage of 7.7%. Outten recalled her family’s history of service in Fruitland and Salisbury. “Service isn’t just politics in my family,” she said. “It’s how you belong to a place. It’s how you prove you care.” She pointed to the county’s landfill crisis, water and septic system failures, and school underfunding as examples of leadership that reacts rather than plans. “This is what happens when leaders only react after things break,” she said. “It costs us more. It hurts families. It robs our kids of the future they deserve.” Outten was joined by several local leaders who offered strong endorsements and reflections on her record. AFSCME Local 3 Eastern Shore representative Jack Hughes praised her leadership on the Salisbury City Council, crediting her with helping pass the Eastern Shore’s first municipal labor code, a significant win for city workers and first responders. Councilman Josh Hastings, who represents the district and is running for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 38B, said Outten would be “crucial in carrying forward the progress we’ve made” on clean water, schools, and infrastructure planning. Whitney Snowden-Olanrewaju from Blending Cultures, a non-profit organization that promotes diversity and equality, spoke about Outten’s record of community inclusion and bridge-building across diverse groups. Outten’s campaign is expected to roll out additional endorsements in the coming weeks. In her speech, she outlined a platform focused on fully funding schools, investing in infrastructure before it fails, and ensuring that county government works for everyone. “This campaign is not mine,” she told the crowd. “It’s ours. I am not standing above you. I am standing with you. And together, we will put Wicomico families first.” With enthusiasm, endorsements, and her message that’s focused on service and accountability, Outten’s kickoff reinforced that District 7 is already shaping up to have a strong favorite in 2026.

Community Rallies After Theft of Car Containing Hundreds of Care Kits for Wicomico Residents in Need

By CSES Staff • October 8, 2025
An act of inhumanity in Salisbury has sparked an outpouring of compassion. Early on Oct. 5, community organizer Jared Schablein’s car was stolen from his backyard. Inside the vehicle were hundreds of care kits assembled just days earlier during Megan Outten’s Wicomico County Council District 7 campaign kickoff event. Packed by volunteers at Salisbury’s Poplar Hill Mansion, the kits contained feminine hygiene products, socks, and toiletries meant for Wicomico County residents facing housing insecurity. “Those kits were meant for neighbors in need,” said Schablein. “If nothing else, I hope whoever took them returns them. Getting those care kits to the folks who need them matters more to me than anything else.” Schablein and Outten have turned the theft into action, launching a new effort called the “Care Kits Comeback Drive.” The event, scheduled for Oct. 12 at 2pm at Poplar Hill Mansion, aims to replace every lost kit, and more. Volunteers are asked to bring or donate items such as sanitary wipes, socks, toothpaste, period products, and underwear. Donations will support the Wicomico County Library, Help and Outreach Point of Entry, and other local service organizations. In announcing the new drive, Schablein emphasized the deeper meaning behind the effort: “When acts of inhumanity happen, the best response is acts of humanity. We’re showing that Salisbury’s compassion can’t be stolen.” Despite the setback, organizers say community support has been overwhelming. Donations began arriving within hours of the announcement, and several local groups have offered to distribute supplies once the new kits are complete. The theft is still under investigation by the Salisbury Police Department. As one volunteer put it at the last event, “Community isn’t guaranteed, it’s built.” This Sunday, Salisbury will build it again.

Momentum Builds to Save Connelly Mill Park: Community Leaders and State Officials Unite Around Vision for Wicomico’s “Central Park”

By CSES Staff • October 8, 2025
What began as a grassroots campaign to preserve a parcel of local land has become one of the most inspiring community movements on the Eastern Shore. Led by residents James and Mikele Dahlen and Holly Campbell, alongside dozens of volunteers, the Save Connelly Mill Park effort reached a significant milestone last week as Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz toured the site with local and state officials to explore opportunities for partnership and permanent protection. On Sept. 23, citizens gathered at Connelly Mill Park with a delegation of state and county leaders, including Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, Del. Barry Beauchamp, County Council President John Cannon, Vice President Jeff Merritt, Councilman James Winn, and local municipal representatives from Delmar and Salisbury. The tour marked the strongest signal to date that the state may play an active role in turning the park’s long-promised vision into reality. Advocates for Save Connelly Mill Park presented Kurtz with a booklet outlining the site’s environmental, historical, and economic importance. The presentation highlighted Connelly Mill’s potential to become a keystone of Wicomico’s park system — protecting the Paleochannel aquifer, preserving wildlife habitats, and providing much-needed green space for recreation and community gathering. Located just five miles from Salisbury, the 234-acre property has rolling forest, wetlands, and unique topography that advocates say could one day make it the “Central Park of Wicomico County.” “The natural beauty of Connelly Mill spoke for itself,” said one organizer after the event. “What we have here is not just land, it’s a promise to future generations.” Adding to the momentum, the community’s advocacy materials were presented directly to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore the next day at the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield, where he was briefed on the citizens’ efforts and growing local support. The proposed park would provide walking trails, open space for families, and educational opportunities while safeguarding vital water resources and promoting mental, physical, and social well-being for county residents. For many, the movement to save Connelly Mill has come to represent more than just one park. It’s about accountability, long-term planning, and ensuring public commitments to community spaces are kept. “We’re not out of the woods yet,” the group shared in a recent update. “But the spotlight is on Connelly Mill, and the momentum is growing.” As the state evaluates whether to designate Connelly Mill as a Partnership Park, supporters say they will continue to meet with officials and rally community engagement to ensure this once-forgotten project finally fulfills its promise. If realized, Connelly Mill would not only protect vital natural resources — it would stand as testament to what determined citizens can build when they refuse to give up.
Show More