By Daina Solomon

TIJUANA (Mexico) – Russians trying enter the United States from Mexico are disappointed that they cannot get in as easily as Ukrainians, despite having fled their home country following the invasion of Ukraine.

While U.S. officials let many Ukrainians pass this week, the Russians remain in limbo. This has led some Russians to set up camp alongside a fence of barbed wire along with a pavement border. They defy warnings by Mexican authorities not to move.

Irina Zolikina was a math teacher from Moscow who fled with her children and boyfriend. On Thursday, the U.S. Border Agent looked at Irina’s stack of Russian passports. He sighed and said that they had to be held. Soon after, officials brought in six Ukrainian men.

“There is so much fear we are living in… It’s terrible inside Russia too,” she said to Reuters at the border of Mexico and Tijuana, California.

Zolkina shared with Reuters a BBC footage of her arrest following an antiwar protest at a British Broadcasting Company location on Feb. 24, which was the same day Russia invaded Ukraine. It is a special military operation that Russia calls, and Western allies condemn it.

A few hours later, she was freed and fled Russia with her family. She said that they traveled through Tashkent, Istanbul, and finally reached Cancun, Mexico, which is a popular jumping off point for Russians traveling to the U.S. Border.

The United Nations reports that more than 3,000,000 Ukrainians are refugees. Many of them live in Ukraine’s border countries. Media reports claim that thousands of Russians fled their home country.

A few Ukrainians who crossed into Tijuana were granted the permission to remain in the United States for one year.

The U.S. responded to a question about the Russians and Ukrainians border crossing on Thursday. Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security Secretary, said that the government is helping those fleeing Ukraine and other programs are being looked at to increase humanitarian assistance.

Most asylum seekers seeking protection from the U.S. have had to cross over Mexico under an anti-coronavirus policy.

When asked by the Department of Homeland Security about its current policies towards Russians, a spokesperson said that the agency would make exceptions to this order for individuals “particularly vulnerable”.

‘UNFAIR’

As a precaution, a few dozen Russians have slept for several days under blankets near the wall to protect their feet.

Mark, 32-year-old restaurant manager from Moscow, told us that it was unfair we couldn’t get in. He had flown to Mexico with his wife via Turkey and Germany in the early part of March.

Mark who requested anonymity, stated that the two were taken into custody for protesting Alexei Navalny being imprisoned. After new legislation has imposed up to 15 year imprisonment for discrediting Russia’s military, he said that going back to Russia wasn’t an option.

Mark sat on a blanket and said “This is our choice to be here and await on the ground,” as he watched hundreds of U.S citizens and tourists enter San Diego. Everyone will forget this issue if we go away.”

U.S. data shows that border officers encountered approximately 6,400 Russians between October 2021 to January. Some of them claimed they were dissidents. They are currently in the United States. In a statement, the Russian Embassy stated that they had spoken to U.S authorities regarding these citizens.

Last week in Tijuana, Mexican officials distributed flyers with Russian listings of nearby refuges for migrants and a letter stating that Russians could apply for asylum. However they should not be allowed to camp near the busy border.

According to Enrique Lucero, Tijuana’s migration director Enrique Lucero, staying there could pose a risk for the United States closing the crossing because of internal security concerns.

Mexico’s Migration Institute did not respond when we asked for comments.

The Russians will remain put for now.

Mikhail Shliachkov (35), sat on a couch under a parasol for protection from the sun. He said that he had resolved to travel to Mexico the day following the invasion.

You know what? “I don’t want to murder my brothers. He showed a photograph of his birth certificate, which shows that his mother was from Ukraine.

The Russians await, but U.S. border agents have refused asylum to Nigerian, Colombian, Honduran, and Mexican refugees, prompting accusations of unfair treatment.

Kevin Salgado (19), a Mexican teenager from Michoacan said that there was an element of racism in the U.S. authorities. He said his 16-year old brother and father, who were both part of a community-police force, had been killed.

“Why is it that they are letting the Ukrainians leave? “… Could someone please explain?”