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| - Features Editors: Paris: Kate Millar +33 1 4041 4636 Hong Kong: Sean Gleeson +852 2829 6249 In February, nearly 100,000 migrants illegally crossed the border between Mexico and the United States, a return to mid-2019 levels after a slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Over three nights, an AFP team saw hundreds of migrants arrive in the US after crossing the Rio Grande river in boats. Most come from Central America -- Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador -- and have fled poverty and violence. On Friday, we moved the fourth and final story in a series published throughout this week: + For migrants, arduous US journey ends with sigh of relief on a plane + One child's solo odyssey from Guatemala to the US border + Border agents, traffickers and migrants mix on the busy Rio Grande + Roma, Texas: Border town at center of immigration wave US-migration-Guatemala-Honduras-ElSalvador-Mexico,SCENE McALLEN, Texas It will be the first time on a plane for most of the undocumented families that arrive daily at the McAllen, Texas airport, holding envelopes that read "Please help me, I don't speak English." 750 words by Laura Bonilla Cal. Picture. Video US-Mexico-immigration-children,SCENE ROMA, United States Oscar is 12 years old and has just crossed the Rio Grande river from Mexico to Texas in a small, inflatable boat piloted by human traffickers. He is tearful, hungry and afraid after a dangerous month-long journey from Guatemala. 800 words by Laura Bonilla Cal. Pictures by Ed Jones. Video by Diane Desobeau US-Mexico-immigration-border,FOCUS ROMA, United States The sun has barely set when Mexican traffickers inflate their boat, load 15 migrants on board, yelling at the kids to stop crying, and then row in a frenzy across the Rio Grande, landing on US soil in just a few minutes. 800 words by Laura Bonilla Cal. Picture. Video US-politics-immigration-Mexico-CentralAmerica,FOCUS ROMA, United States Around midnight, Silvia hears the doorbell ring at her home in the small community of Roma, Texas, where she is a teacher. When she answers the door, she finds a young girl, soaked and begging for help. 950 words by Laura Bonilla Cal. Pictures by Ed Jones. Video by Diane Desobeau afp
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