Haitian migrants travel thousands of extra miles for American asylum. Here’s why.

Thousands of Haitian migrants are gathered in Del Rio, Texas, hoping to be processed by Border Control and gain asylum in the United States. The trip to the border is demanding and dangerous. The most direct route from Haiti to the US would involve a boat ride to one of Florida’s ports, but many Haitian migrants opt to begin their journey in South America, travel through to Mexico, and then arrive at the Texas border. Compared to sailing to Florida, that route adds thousands of miles and can often take years.

“I can only assume Haitians perceive it as easier to come in through Texas, than through Florida,” said immigration attorney Andres Mejer. “Is that a reality? I don’t know. But the numbers certainly indicate that people believe that to be true.”