Ideas worth spreading

What's really happening at the US-Mexico border -- and how we can do better

2,187,427 views |

Erika Pinheiro |

TED Salon Border Stories

• September 2019

At the US-Mexico border, policies of prolonged detention and family separation have made seeking asylum in the United States difficult and dangerous. In this raw and heartfelt talk, immigration attorney Erika Pinheiro offers a glimpse into her daily work on both sides of the border and shares some of the stories behind the statistics -- including her own story of being detained and separated from her son. It's a clear-eyed call to remember the humanity that's impacted by policy -- and a warning: "History shows us that the first population to be vilified and stripped of their rights is rarely the last," she says.

At the US-Mexico border, policies of prolonged detention and family separation have made seeking asylum in the United States difficult and dangerous. In this raw and heartfelt talk, immigration attorney Erika Pinheiro offers a glimpse into her daily work on both sides of the border and shares some of the stories behind the statistics -- including her own story of being detained and separated from her son. It's a clear-eyed call to remember the humanity that's impacted by policy -- and a warning: "History shows us that the first population to be vilified and stripped of their rights is rarely the last," she says.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Erika Pinheiro

Immigration attorney

See speaker profile

Erika Pinheiro fights to protect migrant rights and reunify families. She leads non-profits whose projects have helped thousands of immigrants on both sides of the US-Mexico border.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.