Asylum-seekers blocked at Texas border bridges say Mexican officials are demanding money to let them pass

MATAMOROS, Mexico_Asylum-seekers funneled to bridge crossings at the Texas border are being blocked from approaching the U.S. side, forced on waiting lists overseen by Mexican officials.

The asylum-seekers and immigrant advocates say that has put them at risk of extortion, discrimination and deportation. Many of them have told of Mexican officials demanding money to let them pass and of watching others, further down the list, cross ahead of them.

In Matamoros, a city across from Brownsville, Texas, the list is kept on a clipboard in a plastic case on the newer of two border bridges. Though Mexican officials maintain the list, U.S. officers decide how many asylum-seekers cross. An individual familiar with the Mexican immigration system who spoke on the condition of anonymity 1for safety reasons said U.S. officials choose who crosses based on nationality and other characteristics.

Last week, Mexican immigration officials notified four asylum-seekers camped at the foot of the bridge for more than a month that it was their turn to cross. They had been near the top of the waiting list for days but had watched others jump ahead of them.

Mexican officials escorted the four - a pregnant woman, her boyfriend, a