Mexicanos en Exilio Oral Histories

Chávez, Efraín

• Interviewer: J.L. Benavides
• Date: 2016
• Status: Not transcribed, spa

de la Cruz Hernández, Sergio Alejandro (1985- ) & Daniel Vega Hernández (1993- )

• Interviewer: J.L. Benavides
• Date: 2012
• Status: Not transcribed, spa

López Escajeda, Gloria (1974- )

• Interviewer: J.L Benavides
• Date: 2013
• Status: Not transcribed, spa

Hernández Pacheco, Alejandro (1969- )

• Interviewer: J.L. Benavides
• Date: 2013
• Status: Not transcribed, spa

Huéramo Reyes, Martín (1967- )

• Interviewer: J.L. Benavides
• Date: 2013
• Status: Not transcribed, spa

Reyes Salazar, Saúl (1969- )

• Interviewer: J.L. Benavides
• Date: 2012
• Status: Transcribed, spa

Reyes Salazar lived as a baker in Mexico until the violence of the drug cartels led to the loss of six family members and his family’s move to the US under political asylum.

Salazar Hernández, Sara (1936- )

• Interviewer: J.L. Benavides
• Date: 2012
• Status: Not transcribed, spa

Mother of Saúl Reyes Salazar. Six of members of her family have been killed due to violence.

Spector, Carlos (1954- )

• Interviewer: K. Kirkton
• Date: 2012
• Status: Transcribed, eng

Carlos Spector, Attorney at law, was one of the first U.S. attorneys to win an asylum claim, for a Mexican political leader in 1991 and has won several notable asylum cases including those of Saul Reyes Salazar and Cipriana Jurado. Spector and his wife Sandra, co-founded an organization in El Paso called Mexicans in Exile.

Clip 1: Spector explains how he must demonstrate asylum. In his cases he must show that there is a fear of persecution and that the individual belongs to a persecuted social group. Spector states the law is beginning to catch up with the realities in many countries of what constitutes a social group. He elaborates on the difficulties of the concept of what a social group is.

Clip 2: Spector discusses the difference between asking for asylum at the border (defensive) versus asking for asylum after one has crossed into the United States (affirmatively). One is more likely to win affirmative asylum under the new Obama regulations. Defensive asylum includes being turned in or caught at the border resulting in being locked up until claims may be proved.

Clip 3: Spector highlights the different groups he is involved with when seeking asylum for his clients. He explains how the groups provide aid and give voice to individuals seeking asylum.

Spector, Sandra (1950- )

• Interviewer: K. Kirkton
• Date: 2012, 2013
• Status: Not transcribed, eng

Sandra Spector, a veteran community organizer, co-founded with her husband, Carlos Spector, the organization Mexicans in Exile in El Paso, TX.

Valles García, Marisol (1989- ) & Martha Valles García (1993- )

• Interviewer: J.L. Benavides
• Date: 2012
• Status: Not transcribed, Spa

Marisol Valles García is the former police of chief of Práxedia G. Guerrero. After receiving threats she left in 2011 and is seeking asylum in the United States with her sister Martha Valles García.