The US Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, has urged people not to attempt to migrate to the US without an invitation, as the border is not open.

Many people are leaving their homes due to political dysfunction, economic calamity, and violence, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the situation in Latin America.

People like Yesi Ortega, from Venezuela, are undertaking a dangerous journey, mostly by land, towards the US-Mexico border.

If they make it to American soil, they may find temporary shelter, but they may also face further heartbreak.

This article discusses the situation of asylum seekers from Venezuela and other countries in Mexico and the United States.

The U.S. government has implemented a new restriction that makes it more difficult for asylum seekers to apply for asylum, which has enraged immigration advocates.

The article describes the experience of a Venezuelan man who was tracked down by a gang in Colombia and forced to leave everything behind to flee to Mexico.

He and his wife were unable to get an appointment for a U.S. asylum interview, so they traveled to Matamoros where they successfully crossed the river to safety.

The article also describes the experiences of another Venezuelan woman, Fabiola Cometán, who fled Peru with her son to escape physical abuse by her former partners.

She felt protected on U.S. soil after receiving a death threat in Peru.

The article also mentions the challenges that asylum seekers face in navigating the U.S. immigration system, including the need to provide an address to the authorities and the possibility of being detained or expelled while waiting for an asylum interview.