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  • long lines are now common at the US Mexico border, where immigrants queue up at official border posts to enter the U.

  • S.

  • Legally and usually claim asylum.

  • If they do it legally, they have a much better chance of being granted asylum.

  • Those who cross illegally and request asylum are less than half is likely to get it, according to 2016 government statistics.

  • Cerio, who came illegally from Mexico, is one of the lucky ones.

  • I came to the United States in 1992 because there was not a lot of work down there under the Trump administration's strict enforcement procedures.

  • He was targeted for deportation after being arrested for drunkenness in May of last year.

  • Jailed near Los Angeles, he says a guard insulted him early in his nine months in detention.

  • L D say, he said, You're a prisoner.

  • I said, No, I'm not a prisoner.

  • I'm in detention for immigration.

  • I haven't committed any crimes.

  • Sergio says his relationship with the guards deteriorated from there.

  • His lawyer, who works for Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, a program of Catholic Charities, applied for asylum for his client, who suffered from mental illness.

  • He did have some medical treatment in detention, but it was it was clearly very inadequate.

  • Um, you know, he ended up attempting suicide a month before he was released.

  • So I think that's a sign that his medication wasn't right.

  • He wasn't getting.

  • He wasn't getting adequate care.

  • While he was detained.

  • A judge agreed that Cerio would not get adequate care if he returned to Mexico.

  • He was granted asylum in February.

  • Cirio was granted asylum relatively quickly, But U S officials say the system is being slowed by a growing number of claims.

  • Cerio feels relieved that his case is resolved, but it's still waiting for a visa.

  • Frustrated?

  • I'm frustrated because I'm staying at a shelter free.

  • But in temporary housing, he is ready for a new chapter to begin.

long lines are now common at the US Mexico border, where immigrants queue up at official border posts to enter the U.

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