The story of a Petersburger who illegally emigrated to the United States and requested a shelter

Prison for immigrants

At the end of February 2022, the Petersburger Nikolai (the name of the hero was changed for his security) entered the rally against the war in Ukraine. After that, police officers began to come to his parents. In July, Nikolai decided to try to get into the USA without a visa and ask for political asylum there.

"Paper" talked with him about the dangers on the long journey through Istanbul and the Mexican Tihuan and about life in California in the status of the asylum petition.

- Why and when did you decide to leave Russia?

- Finally I decided when the war began, it became obvious [that it was necessary to leave]. But I even wanted to, a year ago I examined some way, because it was already restless then. He left at the end of July. I could not stand it. The war once again proved that people are somehow strange. There is almost almost no like -minded people. I was mainly surrounded by people who draw the letters Z and tell me all sorts of Putin stories. I did not feel at ease and safe. The police began to visit home regularly. There was no particular choice.

-Why did the police come to you?

- I was detained at one of the rallies. Suspended in me some kind of activity. Plus, my brother is quite active - he goes to the election observer, we used to volunteer, helped the detainees, went to rallies in support of Navalny in 2019 and 2021. When the war began, on the same day we went to the hotel. There we were harshly detained, the next day they arranged a court. We tried to appeal the court decision, but the appeal quickly wrapped us, even lawyers did not help us from the OVD-info. After that, the police often began to come to the address of the residence permit, ask where I am. I paid a fine [for participating in the rally] to be sure that I would leave the country.

- Why did you choose the USA?

- I studied English, I know him a little. Other options were more distant from the point of view of implementation and generally prospects for living. The US culture is closer to me. Plus, I heard that the laws are respected here, that here the state protects people who run from their country for political reasons.

- How did you prepare for emigration in the USA?

- To begin with, you need the so -called case - the story of persecution in your state for political or religious reasons. You need to prove that you belong to the client. It is necessary to collect data, written testimonies, photographs. In my case, I had to prove that I had problems with law enforcement agencies, that they did not lag behind me, that the threat was real and this did not end at the time of my departure. In the American court, you need to prove that if you had not left, you could plant you like Navalny. If you prove that there are at least 10 % probability that it will be so, they officially give asylum, green card, work permit, but this happens no earlier than a year later. The case must be prepared in Russia.

Next, buying tickets. You need to fly through Istanbul. Some fly through Frankfurt, but they unfold the Russians there, people lose money. I took a ticket to Istanbul for 15 thousand and a back and forth Istanbul-Mexico for 90 thousand. I took it back and back, because you need to pretend to be a tourist. If migration intentions are recognized - and they will check it at each stage - then this is a U -turn. We need a tourist appearance, printed tourist routes, hotel armor, visa - the so -called electronic resolution to Mexico for a month. It can be issued on the website of the Mexican Embassy in the Russian Federation. We go with all the necessary documents, give only what they ask for verification. No need to poke all the papers at the airport. In Istanbul, they know that the Russians are going to Mexico to emigrate to the United States. Do they have a conspiracy, or something, with Mexico to control emigration? Everything went calmly for me. There were no problems with Istanbul.

- How did you get to the American border?

- I flew to the capital - Mexico City, lived there for three days. Next, you need to take a plane ticket to Tijuana - it costs 14 thousand rubles.

There, too, can be caught, unfolded. This is a rather suspicious route. It is necessary to explain why you are flying there, since Tihuana is a non -tourist dangerous city. One person told me to come up with a story that I was a surfer. I signed up for a surfing on Facebook on the beach of Ensenada. You must have return tickets in Mexico City.

In Tijuan, the passport control was stressful. There is a worker-a wheelchair user, his eyes are like an X-ray on potential emigrants. He who does not have an American or Mexican ID all who does not have to be in the corral [for interrogation]. You are waiting for something incomprehensible. I sat for an hour. As a result, they took a passport, left for five minutes, returned and missed.

In Tijuan, I had a hotel in the center. A restless city, it is better not to walk at night. The police there are abruptly our police officers. They can threaten, demand bribes. They know why you came here. Sometimes even in hotels they catch, conduct raids. In my case, there was nothing like that. I found two more guys from the CIS who wanted to cross the border.

- How did you cross the border?

- I united with the guys, studied the card, looked at all the borders, looked where they are less guarded. I learned that you can cross the border through the desert, but it is dangerous. Many Spanish Latino -speakers pass through the desert, but very many die - it is hot, there is no water, you can get lost. There is a wall in the desert - Trump built it, but did not work. In certain places, it is interrupted. It cannot be guarded completely, but in places the territory is provided with protection.

We went by taxi in a mee - a city 150 kilometers from Tijuana. They planned to cross the border in the district of Human (Arizona). There is a River Colorado. As soon as you cross it, you reach the fence of the American one - and you are already in the United States. When you are there, they will not drive you away, you are obliged to accept you. But as soon as we reached the road, where we had to land and go 1.5 kilometers to the river, the border guards immediately chased us - they were waiting for us, monitored our taxi. We did not calculate the forces, the earth was raw under our feet, literally drowned - everything went wrong.

Three guys ran after us, said: "Stand!" We tried to pay off and agree with them: "We have a very difficult situation, please, we need help." They: "No, we cannot, come with us." We were put in a minibus, they drove for two hours. Lovely Mexicans, turned on the air conditioner, gave them to the bushes, offered water. They took us to the checkpoint in a mech. We thought we were waiting for the cub . But they returned the passports to us and said that if we go again towards America, we are deported.

We sat down, upset. But they decided to try to cross in another place. We went by taxi in a town between Tijuana and Mokhikali.

We had no choice. I told the guys: "Everything, at 4 in the morning, was not there." It was scary, the dogs barked. Surprisingly, there was nobody on the way from the town to the border, everyone was sleeping. We climbed quickly through a barbed wire fence, hid in the dark, walked as quietly as possible. An hour later, along the path, we reached the mountain, climbed to dawn. From the top, the American Board-Patrol was visible. I watched all the way through the GPS: there was a direct line denoting the border - I thought that we were up to the fence. I did not see him, but I saw a thorny wire under my feet - and realized that this was the border. Having stepped over it, we were safe in the territory of the state. I said: "Everything, exhale."

We reached the territory of the Border Patrol and after 10 minutes the police jumped to us. Without threats, all kind and cute, realized why we are here. We were designed, examined, put in the cell. They give mattresses, blanks from foil. The worst thing is that you do not know how much you will be there. They can keep for 10-15 days in the wards, and then send it to the codenhen, where you can sit for three months. It is unprofitable for the police to keep you for a long time. If they see that you are adequate, then they are released.

- How did you ask for political asylum?

- The officer came up to us, we said the cherished words that we were looking for a political exile. They understand everything. This is an unofficial request, they will still interrogate and interrogate. Officially, you need to submit the form i589. Until you submitted it, you will subject to deportation. Even I still go to her. During the year I will give a form, the court will begin and determines whether I am worthy of refuge or not.

- What rights gives you the current status of the petitioner?

- It gives nothing. I have no right, there is no passport, work permit. I do not have Social Security Number, which they are asked even when you settle in apartments. I have no permanent housing. But I am officially in the country, I have the necessary papers - the obligation to turn to the court. There is all my data, photo - instead of a passport. It is selected, as they want to control the newly -made refugee.

- Do you have a source of income?

- I had savings, I have not spent them yet. For transfers I use a friend of a friend who left the USA to Russia. I have unofficial work for cache. I live in a hostel for $ 45 per day, and we must pay for it. I found an employer on the Internet. I am engaged in the repair in houses. Someone has a plumbing broke, someone has an electrician, [someone needs] to paint something.

- Who are you mainly communicating with?

- Basically, these are Russian -speaking. At first, when you are not very free in English, very big help from the local Russian community. There are not many acquaintances for now, I find them on Facebook. But when he arrived, there was no one at all. Colleagues now are close people who can help something. But in general, only you have to hope for yourself.

- Do you feel protected in the USA?

- Yes, quite. I even trained from the fact that no one knocks on the door at night. I felt like a big lucky one when I heard about this terrible mobilization. I am very worried now not for myself, but for my brother. For the fact that he can be sent to him at any moment. I say to all my friends from Russia: "Come on, go!" They have the same case as mine, and they suffered from our state. But unfortunately, no one agreed. Now, I'm afraid it's too late.

- Do you follow the American media? How do they cover the war in Ukraine?

- I do not look at the media, but I speak with the guys English -speaking. Those who are older - they are aware of what is happening. They say that the war is terrible, [they] are mainly against Putin’s policy. Ukrainians are supported here. One guy from Ukraine works with us. He said that in a month the federal authorities provided him with all the necessary documents. He is an almost full citizen. Even the manual may be issued.

- And how do they relate to Russian and Russian -speaking people in the USA?

- Many say that you will go to the restaurant - they will tell you: “Are you Russian? Go from here! " I didn't notice this. Here, Russian with Russians will encounter and will not understand that it is Russian. Everyone speaks English. If I go to a restaurant, order food, no one will know that I am Russian. But the American guys, to whom I say, that I am Russian and tell the situation, are treated with sympathy. California is a democratic state. There are a lot of freedoms here. And to no one for his nation, for belonging to some community there will be no complaints.

- Under what conditions would you return to Russia?

- If Navalny became the president, I would have thought. But a lot should change. So much that I do not believe that this can be done in ten years. Because 80 % of people, in my opinion, do not understand what is wrong with them - believe in everything that they say [politicians]. Why do they send their guys under the knife? Mothers send them, as if it should be so. As if war is what we so wanted and did not have enough for us 1939-1945. This is a fundamental problem. Further economic issues. Here, in the USA, for example, manual labor is very appreciated, and not just in Russia: you will make it possible to make it as ends to work at the factory. I know by myself, I worked there for two years.

What else to read:

• "It annoys me what people go to Georgia, but these are people." How Petersburgers organized humanitarian aid for those who stuck in the Upper Lars.
• "In order not to go to the army, we must not go there." How Petersburgers have avoided a military draft for years.

Photo: Carol Guzy/Zuma/Tass