At dawn along the U.S.-Mexico border, activists document migrant families navigating razor-wire fences while retired Border Patrol agents recount decades of contentious policies. This vivid contrast underscores a harsh reality: Despite Hispanics becoming the largest U.S. minority group in 2000, systemic disparities persist.
In The Race Gap in the U.S. series, journalist Jason Motlagh reveals how Hispanic individuals—whether crossing deserts for opportunity or simply commuting to work—face disproportionate scrutiny. In Texas and California, migrants describe being racially profiled during routine traffic stops, while lawyers cite cases of detainees held in overcrowded facilities without legal recourse.
'We’re not statistics—we’re humans fighting for dignity,' says MarĂa González, a grassroots organizer in El Paso. Her group has helped file over 50 complaints against law enforcement since 2022, citing violations ranging from excessive force to wrongful deportations.
Demographic data paints a stark picture: Hispanic Americans are 1.5x more likely to be questioned by police than white counterparts, per recent ACLU reports. Yet advocacy networks are gaining momentum. Nonprofits like Border Angels now deploy drones to locate migrants stranded in remote areas, while tech startups create apps to report abuses anonymously.
As debates over immigration reform dominate election cycles, activists urge policymakers to address what they call 'a crisis of humanity—not just borders.'
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
