Photographer: John Moore
On June, 12, 2018 Honduran toddler and her mother are taken into custody by U.S. border officials. Yanela Sanchez the young girl photographed cries as her mother is searched by U.S. authorities. The mother and daughter pair were taken into custody in McAllen, Texas. Immigrant families were rafting across the Rio Grande from Mexico where they hoped they would be able to seek asylum in the United States but were then stopped and detained by the U.S authorities. Sandra Sanchez, Yanela’s mother said they had been traveling for a month through Central America and Mexico before reaching the United States. The Trump Administration had announced that there would be a “no tolerance” policy at the border. Meaning those caught trying to cross the border would be prosecuted as criminals. Even the mothers and children like Sandra and Yanela. Due to the actions of the Trump Administration many parents were separated from their children which is something I never thought I would live to see in The United States of America. As an American I can honestly say I am disgusted with the Trump Administration for creating policy’s such as these. I am embarrassed to be from a country where mothers are separated from their babies. This picture spoke a million words to me. I could see a story through the childs cry. She had been places and seen things no one, especially no young person should have to see or experience. Often times the parents and the children were actually sent to completely different detention centers, leaving them alone and without family. After this photo had been published the United States officials confirmed that Yanela and her mother had not been among those families separated.
John Moore the photographer of this picture is a senior staff photographer and special correspondent for Getty Images. He himself has photographed in 65 countries and on six different continents. Since his return to the United States in 2008 he has his attention on Border issues and continues to attempt to capture the genuine issues taking place. Moore is a well awarded photographer and won the world press photo of the year with his picture of Yanela and her mother at the border.
https://www.worldpressphoto.org/collection/photo/2019/38262/1/John-Moore-(2)
John Moore
Yanela and her mother are not the only ones detained and almost separated at the American-Mexico border.
Press, A. T. (n.d.). Separation of parents, kids at U.S.-Mexico border: How the administration got here. Retrieved from https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2018/Jun-18/453514-separation-of-parents-kids-at-us-mexico-border-how-the-administration-got-here.ashx
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