New exclusive documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation reveal that the American Red Cross has provided guides for illegal migrants traveling to the U.S. The guides include a map of the U.S. border, resources along the journey, and a document on what to do when encountering dangers during the journey.
The packet, which is stamped with the International Committee of the Red Cross and American Red Cross logos, shows a list of resources such as hotels, clinics, and shelters where migrants can get support in Mexico and Central America.
The map includes clearly defined lines leading to cities along the U.S. border, and the organization has a guide to “self-care” during the journey, which includes tips on how to survive the desert and disease, how to safely jump on trains, and how to obtain contraceptives.
Notably, the American Red Cross, which sits on the board of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Food and Shelter program, is tasked with allocating millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to nonprofit groups supporting illegal migrants released into the United States.
The FEMA program received $350 million from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in February. The American Red Cross, along with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), is tasked with allocating some of those funds to support migrants after they have crossed the southern border and are processed with a court date.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recorded a record surge in illegal migration at the southern border, where federal authorities encountered more than 2.3 million migrants in the fiscal year 2022 and more than 870,000 between October and January.
The maps provided by the American Red Cross to migrants show routes to popular border cities in the United States, including El Paso, Texas; Nogales, Arizona; and McAllen, Texas.
The guides provided by the American Red Cross also acknowledge the dangers faced by migrants during the journey. For instance, many migrants from countries beyond Central America travel through Panama’s Darien Gap, where authorities reported 50 known migrant deaths in 2022. The Wall Street Journal reported 180 known cases of rape in the same region between May and September 2021.
The Red Cross’ guide provides migrants with the tools to encounter deadly and treacherous situations, including providing contraceptives. “If you use contraceptive methods, don’t forget to bring them with you. In necessary cases, some Red Cross clinics and medical brigades will give them to you for free,” the self-care document states.
The document also provides guidance on navigating the desert and jumping on top of cargo trains, which are known as “La Bestia” or “the beast,” that transits north through Mexico. “Traveling seated (on trains) is the most recommended. Be careful on your trip, there are branches, electric cables, tunnels that can hit you. Accommodate yourself where you have supporting points,” it adds.
The United Nations (UN) recorded 7,000 migrant deaths between 2014 and 2022 in the Americas, 4,694 of whom were heading to the U.S. During that same time period, there were also 4,000 migrant deaths recorded in the U.S.
Sources: DailyCaller, LAtimes, WSJ