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January 17: Josephine Fernandez
Today is the last day of our stay in El Paso. As a member of the Mayflower Immigration Team, I’m very excited to return to Minnesota and put what we have learned into practice. We will begin to share our experience at the adult education hour on February 15. We will be sharing stories and voices of people deeply involved in the immigration struggle at the border as we seek to be in solidarity with the struggles of Jesus’ poor.
On our last day we heard from Fr. Bill Morton, of the El Paso Columban Mission, our El Paso Host. He bade us farewell and blessed us as a group as we embark on a journey back home to Minneapolis and into concrete actions now that “we have seen and heard.” He mentioned how happy he is that the group came over to learn more about the plight of the migrants and the refugees and to listen about how best to be of service to our neighbors. He announced that the donations collected and sales from the CDs earned from Marty Haugen’s Sing-Along Night amounted to $ 1428.35. This was almost exactly what they needed for the spring tuition of the students they support in high school.
Fr. Bob Mosher, also of the Columban Mission, was with us the entire trip. He was a servant-leader (much like Jesus). He drove the van, shopped for groceries, helped wash dishes, swept the floor, arranged our itineraries, and unclogged the toilet.
Fr. Bob led us in an evaluation of the trip. Here is some of what we said:
The Mayflower Immigration Team plans:
1) a Reading Group to learn more deeply about the issue
2) a movie presentation
3) exposure trips to Worthington and Pelican Rapids
4) providing training in immigration advocacy
5) write articles for the COMMAntary and for Ship to Shore
6) continue to network with other Minnesota organizations working around immigration issues.
The team is happy to speak with anyone interested in participating in this ministry in any way. Come join us on February 8 if you would like to hear the voices we heard. You will hear about Fr. Peter, a 91-year-old priest who lives in a poor Juarez neighborhood. Every week he crosses the border and stands with other justice lovers in front of the federal building in El Paso to protest U.S. violence. You will also hear about Elizabeth who fled violence in Mexico and, after living in fear of deportation, just received news that she is approved for legal residency.
Border Immersion Blog
January 17: Josephine Fernandez
Today is the last day of our stay in El Paso. As a member of the Mayflower Immigration Team, I’m very excited to return to Minnesota and put what we have learned into practice. We will begin to share our experience at the adult education hour on February 15. We will be sharing stories and voices of people deeply involved in the immigration struggle at the border as we seek to be in solidarity with the struggles of Jesus’ poor.
On our last day we heard from Fr. Bill Morton, of the El Paso Columban Mission, our El Paso Host. He bade us farewell and blessed us as a group as we embark on a journey back home to Minneapolis and into concrete actions now that “we have seen and heard.” He mentioned how happy he is that the group came over to learn more about the plight of the migrants and the refugees and to listen about how best to be of service to our neighbors. He announced that the donations collected and sales from the CDs earned from Marty Haugen’s Sing-Along Night amounted to $ 1428.35. This was almost exactly what they needed for the spring tuition of the students they support in high school.
Fr. Bob Mosher, also of the Columban Mission, was with us the entire trip. He was a servant-leader (much like Jesus). He drove the van, shopped for groceries, helped wash dishes, swept the floor, arranged our itineraries, and unclogged the toilet.
Fr. Bob led us in an evaluation of the trip. Here is some of what we said:
- It is exciting to see young people say “yes” to being on the front lines, both the youth who are with us and those we met along the way
- I am grateful for so many people who shared their stories so freely, and of their hospitality
- I am trying to create a creative balance between being on fire and not burning out
- I am pleased and inspired with the earth-friendly practices at the Colomban Mission House where we are staying
- I am struck by gratefulness from everyone, hearing from wise articulate story-tellers, and the privilege to join with people passionate about the earth, about poverty, and the children of this world
- We may feel limited in so many ways but all of us can do something
- This trip exceeded my expectations which were high to start with
- I am feeling so blessed from all the incredible presentations from passionate advocates in the area serving the undocumented population now in El Paso
- We have to dissect further how we use the term “alien.” Even how the Bible uses the word “alien”
- I hope I can be reminded of this powerful experience again and again. I need the strength to actually do something and be in solidarity
The Mayflower Immigration Team plans:
1) a Reading Group to learn more deeply about the issue
2) a movie presentation
3) exposure trips to Worthington and Pelican Rapids
4) providing training in immigration advocacy
5) write articles for the COMMAntary and for Ship to Shore
6) continue to network with other Minnesota organizations working around immigration issues.
The team is happy to speak with anyone interested in participating in this ministry in any way. Come join us on February 8 if you would like to hear the voices we heard. You will hear about Fr. Peter, a 91-year-old priest who lives in a poor Juarez neighborhood. Every week he crosses the border and stands with other justice lovers in front of the federal building in El Paso to protest U.S. violence. You will also hear about Elizabeth who fled violence in Mexico and, after living in fear of deportation, just received news that she is approved for legal residency.
January 16: Linda & Marty Haugen
Pictured: God, as drawn by a 6 year old Salvadoran boy
Today (Friday) is the fifth and last full day of our border encounter trip. We began the day at Border Marker One near the Rio Grande just outside of El Paso. This location is one of the very few unfenced areas along the U.S.-Mexican border. Our group posed casually with one foot in each country; at the same time we are aware that, unlike us, the thousands of migrants from other countries must cross in fear and danger.
Our next visit was at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso. The Center has provided legal assistance and advice to migrants from more than 60 countries including such places as Nigeria and Bangladesh. All their clients have been detained after crossing the border from Mexico. The Advocacy Center provides legal help for those persons claiming asylum because of threats of harm based on their their religious or political beliefs. Women and children claiming asylum are their highest priority. Many of those seeking asylum are fleeing violence from the drug cartels, gangs, and corrupt police or military personnel in their own countries. Las Americas Center takes on (and often wins) cases for these asylum seekers. It has been pointe out repeatedly to us this week that illegal drug consumption in the United States is the cause behind the violence which the drug cartels perpetuate on the citizens of their own country.
Over the noon hour we joined the weekly protest against war and against the militarization of the border in front of the United States Courthouse in El Paso. Our host, Fr. Bob Mosher, was impressed by the number of positive expressions from drivers and pedestrians given the fact that El Paso is a military town (Fort Bliss is nearby).
After lunch we visited the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Service of El Paso to hear a powerful and enlightening presentation by Shalini Thomas. She spoke about the various designations of citizens, residents, visa seekers and the undocumented. Shalini is a fully accredited representative, which means that she could represent a client in the Immigration Court system. Both Las Americas Center and the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Center hire accredited representatives in addition to lawyers. The sheer volume of individuals seeking residency and asylum results in huge numbers of individuals and families seeking relief through the legal system. It can take years for their cases to be heard in the Federal Immigration Court. Usually the immigrants are held in detention centers while awaiting legal decisions about their cases. Privately owned detentions centers are making large profits from keeping children, women, and men in facilities that are often little different than prisons.
Throughout our visit, we have been repeatedly reminded of the complex, discouraging and slow-moving legal process that U.S. Immigration Courts impose on people trying to enter the United States. It is even more difficult for people from Mexico to gain citizenship in the US than it is for people coming from other countries. It has been heart warming and encouraging to to see the excellent work done by many committed and tireless volunteers and staff in a number of organizations working on behalf of the voiceless and vulnerable.
This evening we heard a presentation by Luis Jacquez about the plight of unaccompanied minors crossing over from Mexico into the United States. In 2014 over 57,000 children under 18 made the long, dangerous and lonely journey. Many started their journey riding on the tops of trains. Others were smuggled by coyotes (who might abuse them or leave them alone in the desert). Twice as many children came in 2014 as in 2013. Once here they must endure detention, which includes little contact with family members and an uncertain future. The reason they most often give for coming is to escape violence and/or be reunited with family in the US. We reflected upon what the outcry would be like in our country if we knew that almost 60,000 U.S. children were driven to such desperate journeys.
Luis ended his presentation with a story that brought home in a real way the depth of these children's plight. He had asked a group of children in the shelter where he works to draw a picture of God. A six year old boy from El Salvador drew the picture you see here.[attached picture]. Luis asked the boy what it was. “It is a plane; it lives in the sky and can go very far.” “Why is a plane like God?” Luis asked. “A plane can get you where you want to go a lot faster, and I have walked a long way in the desert to be with my Mom. And I know if I have God in my heart, God is going to be the plane that takes me to my Mom.”
Pictured: God, as drawn by a 6 year old Salvadoran boy
Today (Friday) is the fifth and last full day of our border encounter trip. We began the day at Border Marker One near the Rio Grande just outside of El Paso. This location is one of the very few unfenced areas along the U.S.-Mexican border. Our group posed casually with one foot in each country; at the same time we are aware that, unlike us, the thousands of migrants from other countries must cross in fear and danger.
Our next visit was at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso. The Center has provided legal assistance and advice to migrants from more than 60 countries including such places as Nigeria and Bangladesh. All their clients have been detained after crossing the border from Mexico. The Advocacy Center provides legal help for those persons claiming asylum because of threats of harm based on their their religious or political beliefs. Women and children claiming asylum are their highest priority. Many of those seeking asylum are fleeing violence from the drug cartels, gangs, and corrupt police or military personnel in their own countries. Las Americas Center takes on (and often wins) cases for these asylum seekers. It has been pointe out repeatedly to us this week that illegal drug consumption in the United States is the cause behind the violence which the drug cartels perpetuate on the citizens of their own country.
Over the noon hour we joined the weekly protest against war and against the militarization of the border in front of the United States Courthouse in El Paso. Our host, Fr. Bob Mosher, was impressed by the number of positive expressions from drivers and pedestrians given the fact that El Paso is a military town (Fort Bliss is nearby).
After lunch we visited the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Service of El Paso to hear a powerful and enlightening presentation by Shalini Thomas. She spoke about the various designations of citizens, residents, visa seekers and the undocumented. Shalini is a fully accredited representative, which means that she could represent a client in the Immigration Court system. Both Las Americas Center and the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Center hire accredited representatives in addition to lawyers. The sheer volume of individuals seeking residency and asylum results in huge numbers of individuals and families seeking relief through the legal system. It can take years for their cases to be heard in the Federal Immigration Court. Usually the immigrants are held in detention centers while awaiting legal decisions about their cases. Privately owned detentions centers are making large profits from keeping children, women, and men in facilities that are often little different than prisons.
Throughout our visit, we have been repeatedly reminded of the complex, discouraging and slow-moving legal process that U.S. Immigration Courts impose on people trying to enter the United States. It is even more difficult for people from Mexico to gain citizenship in the US than it is for people coming from other countries. It has been heart warming and encouraging to to see the excellent work done by many committed and tireless volunteers and staff in a number of organizations working on behalf of the voiceless and vulnerable.
This evening we heard a presentation by Luis Jacquez about the plight of unaccompanied minors crossing over from Mexico into the United States. In 2014 over 57,000 children under 18 made the long, dangerous and lonely journey. Many started their journey riding on the tops of trains. Others were smuggled by coyotes (who might abuse them or leave them alone in the desert). Twice as many children came in 2014 as in 2013. Once here they must endure detention, which includes little contact with family members and an uncertain future. The reason they most often give for coming is to escape violence and/or be reunited with family in the US. We reflected upon what the outcry would be like in our country if we knew that almost 60,000 U.S. children were driven to such desperate journeys.
Luis ended his presentation with a story that brought home in a real way the depth of these children's plight. He had asked a group of children in the shelter where he works to draw a picture of God. A six year old boy from El Salvador drew the picture you see here.[attached picture]. Luis asked the boy what it was. “It is a plane; it lives in the sky and can go very far.” “Why is a plane like God?” Luis asked. “A plane can get you where you want to go a lot faster, and I have walked a long way in the desert to be with my Mom. And I know if I have God in my heart, God is going to be the plane that takes me to my Mom.”
January 15: Linnea Champ Pictured at left: One of the flags surrounding the common area at the shelter for migrant workers. Translation: Union of Agricultural workers. United without borders.
Today we moved forward in our journey, spending more time with a couple sides of immigration we don't normally see: border patrol and immigration court.
The fourth day of our immersion began with a visit with border patrol agents at the fence in Anapra, New Mexico. Marcy and Giovanni have worked for more than 7 years and presented us with a different image of border patrol than that which fills media. When border patrol started, agents were only supplied with hay and a horse and had to buy their own uniform and guns. Today, agents go through a 55 or 95 day training where they extensively learn spanish, which is then followed by a 2-year probationary period. They are a force of over 20,000, equating to nearly 10 agents per mile border. Since 2003, the agency became part of the department of homeland security and honed in on the mission of securing the border from potential threats of terrorism. Overall, they conveyed an agency where that is intent on working against drug trafficing, and wants to prevent migrant casualties. When prompted about what policy change they might advocate for immigration reform, the first comment was to increase permits for migrant workers to come and work. They encouraged us all to exercise our right to vote. It was clear they felt called to work against drug trafficking and terrorism, and that dealing with migrants does not present nearly the same threat. We all witnessed a level of compassion with these agents that was for me, at least, unexpected.
From the border, we traveled to the shelter for seasonal workers in El Paso for a discussion with Carlos Martenez. The center began as an organization that rallied for immigrant rights, but what they eventually found was that migrants were really seeking a place to shelter them from weather and to drink coffee. So, since 1995 this shelter has housed migrants in the United States who work in the fields. We were seated in a large room in the shelter which at night is covered with cots used for sleeping. Carlos described the lives of these workers, sleeping at 9pm and then having to wake by midnight in order to go and look for work the following day. Our conversation ended with a discussion of thinking about how food can be related to a means of ending oppression. Food justice is central to the rights of workers and the protection fo the environment.
After a break for chinese food for lunch, we sat in on a number of immigration hearing in the court of Judge Robert Hough. The judge gave many cases following court dates in 6-8 months, so we questioned why this time is so long. He informed us that he currently has approximately 4,000 cases, and that he often sees close to 50 cases each day. We are grateful for the opportunity to see this side of the immigration process that immigrants undergo. While we were there we witnessed a young man receive permanent residence status.
Our day concluded with a meditation again at the border of Anapra, New Mexico. We meditated on the journey so many immigrants undergo. The contrast visually between the two sides depicts lives so different, yet only separated by a fence. We then went home to eat dinner before Wendy's presentation of her book, "No longer strangers." At dinner we heard the story of another woman, who just today was sent papers for permanent resident status. We rejoiced!
Overall, today we remembered the humanity of all of the immigrants and people we have met and listened to over the past few days. In spite of the oppression and every obstacle placed in this area, we still find lights of hope in all of the people we met.
Today we moved forward in our journey, spending more time with a couple sides of immigration we don't normally see: border patrol and immigration court.
The fourth day of our immersion began with a visit with border patrol agents at the fence in Anapra, New Mexico. Marcy and Giovanni have worked for more than 7 years and presented us with a different image of border patrol than that which fills media. When border patrol started, agents were only supplied with hay and a horse and had to buy their own uniform and guns. Today, agents go through a 55 or 95 day training where they extensively learn spanish, which is then followed by a 2-year probationary period. They are a force of over 20,000, equating to nearly 10 agents per mile border. Since 2003, the agency became part of the department of homeland security and honed in on the mission of securing the border from potential threats of terrorism. Overall, they conveyed an agency where that is intent on working against drug trafficing, and wants to prevent migrant casualties. When prompted about what policy change they might advocate for immigration reform, the first comment was to increase permits for migrant workers to come and work. They encouraged us all to exercise our right to vote. It was clear they felt called to work against drug trafficking and terrorism, and that dealing with migrants does not present nearly the same threat. We all witnessed a level of compassion with these agents that was for me, at least, unexpected.
From the border, we traveled to the shelter for seasonal workers in El Paso for a discussion with Carlos Martenez. The center began as an organization that rallied for immigrant rights, but what they eventually found was that migrants were really seeking a place to shelter them from weather and to drink coffee. So, since 1995 this shelter has housed migrants in the United States who work in the fields. We were seated in a large room in the shelter which at night is covered with cots used for sleeping. Carlos described the lives of these workers, sleeping at 9pm and then having to wake by midnight in order to go and look for work the following day. Our conversation ended with a discussion of thinking about how food can be related to a means of ending oppression. Food justice is central to the rights of workers and the protection fo the environment.
After a break for chinese food for lunch, we sat in on a number of immigration hearing in the court of Judge Robert Hough. The judge gave many cases following court dates in 6-8 months, so we questioned why this time is so long. He informed us that he currently has approximately 4,000 cases, and that he often sees close to 50 cases each day. We are grateful for the opportunity to see this side of the immigration process that immigrants undergo. While we were there we witnessed a young man receive permanent residence status.
Our day concluded with a meditation again at the border of Anapra, New Mexico. We meditated on the journey so many immigrants undergo. The contrast visually between the two sides depicts lives so different, yet only separated by a fence. We then went home to eat dinner before Wendy's presentation of her book, "No longer strangers." At dinner we heard the story of another woman, who just today was sent papers for permanent resident status. We rejoiced!
Overall, today we remembered the humanity of all of the immigrants and people we have met and listened to over the past few days. In spite of the oppression and every obstacle placed in this area, we still find lights of hope in all of the people we met.
January 14: Gretchen Griffin
Pictured at left: Women working in a coop in Juarez
It's only day three in El Paso, and already we've met so many brave, compassionate, strong, inspiring people. This morning we met with Father Bill Morton who has lived and worked in El Paso and Juarez, Mexico, for more than 25 years. The Columban Mission House, where we are staying, was his brain child. Father Bill assuaged the fears that some of us felt about traveling to violence-torn Juarez today, but also told us gently that as Christians we are sometimes obligated to put ourselves in danger in order to be in solidarity with others. He explained some of the history of the violence in Juarez and other parts of Mexico, outlining the direct relationship with the $30 billion drug market in the United States. When we traveled from El Paso into Juarez we saw with our own eyes that this is really one big sprawling city with almost 2 million people spanning both sides of the Rio Grande. Until fairly recently families lived and worked on both sides, traveling back and forth freely, but now the U.S. has "secured the border", and there is an imposing checkpoint with omnipresent border guards and an 18 foot fence. Juarez is known by many as a place where people live in fear and poverty, but we met amazing people who live with courage and determination and hope.
We met people like Liz Martinez, an attorney who works with immigrants and the LGBT community in Juarez. She has compiled a report about the most serious human and civil rights violations experienced by Mexican immigrants who have been deported from U.S. detention centers. She has presented her report to authorities in Washington, D.C., and she is now encouraging Mexican authorities and the media to get involved. She has started a national network of lesbian mothers, affiliated with Desert View UCC in Juarez, serving women who want to live out their faith but often have no option for joining a faith community in a very homophobic environment.
We spent time with Dr. Mendoza who established Clinica Cristo Rey, serving the poorest of the poor in a barrio in Juarez. We toured her medical and dental clinic, supported only by volunteers, donations, and whatever payment her patients can afford. Dr. Mendoza described the cycle of generational poverty that is ensured when mothers cannot give birth in a hospital unless they have a Mexican birth certificate themselves. A child must be born in a hospital to have a birth certificate and, without one, cannot get into school or get a decent job or vote. And so, in addition to caring for the physical needs of her patients, Dr. Mendoza has become a relentless and determined advocate helping her clients get their "papers". As if that is not enough, she uses her clinic as an opportunity to mentor and nurture young people from the community, and she advocates for the rights of indigenous people in Mexico. Some of us saw her as the Mother Teresa of her barrio in Juarez.
The people who most captured my heart today were the women of Centro Santa Catalina. We walked into their space full of the sounds of sewing machines, and talking, and laughter. They welcomed us with smiles, coffee, hot chocolate, and Mexican pastries. Their handcrafted scarves, shawls, aprons, purses, bags and more filled every surface with vivid color and beautiful patterns. They answered our questions patiently, often asked in halting Spanish, about their work together and their lives. We learned about their history coming together originally as a prayer group 16 years ago and now involving more than 25 women who make beautiful handcrafts and share the profits. They started making paper flowers and pinatas, then dresses and shirts with donations of cloth from people in El Paso. The older women could no longer work in the maquila factories and selling these items provided income for their families. Some told us about the "macho" culture in which they live where they don't have much of a voice or role in the affairs of their families. This has changed with their involvement in the cooperative. They shared stories about their lives outside of the cooperative, lives touched by violence and even murder, but they laughed about participating in the Zumba classes that their husbands don't know about. Every woman has family members in the United States, most of whom cannot return because they are undocumented. One woman told us about her 19 year old daughter living in the U.S. without papers, who she has not seen since the daughter was 14. Some told us they have hopes that they will see their family members again because of President Obama's recent executive actions. They sent us off with hugs, and smiles, and wishes that some day we would return.
These are only some of the courageous people we met, living their lives with faith and hope in conditions that are difficult for most of us to imagine.
The day ended with Marty Haugen's benefit concert hosted by St. Pius X church in El Paso singing beloved and inspiring songs that feel so right in this place.
Pictured at left: Women working in a coop in Juarez
It's only day three in El Paso, and already we've met so many brave, compassionate, strong, inspiring people. This morning we met with Father Bill Morton who has lived and worked in El Paso and Juarez, Mexico, for more than 25 years. The Columban Mission House, where we are staying, was his brain child. Father Bill assuaged the fears that some of us felt about traveling to violence-torn Juarez today, but also told us gently that as Christians we are sometimes obligated to put ourselves in danger in order to be in solidarity with others. He explained some of the history of the violence in Juarez and other parts of Mexico, outlining the direct relationship with the $30 billion drug market in the United States. When we traveled from El Paso into Juarez we saw with our own eyes that this is really one big sprawling city with almost 2 million people spanning both sides of the Rio Grande. Until fairly recently families lived and worked on both sides, traveling back and forth freely, but now the U.S. has "secured the border", and there is an imposing checkpoint with omnipresent border guards and an 18 foot fence. Juarez is known by many as a place where people live in fear and poverty, but we met amazing people who live with courage and determination and hope.
We met people like Liz Martinez, an attorney who works with immigrants and the LGBT community in Juarez. She has compiled a report about the most serious human and civil rights violations experienced by Mexican immigrants who have been deported from U.S. detention centers. She has presented her report to authorities in Washington, D.C., and she is now encouraging Mexican authorities and the media to get involved. She has started a national network of lesbian mothers, affiliated with Desert View UCC in Juarez, serving women who want to live out their faith but often have no option for joining a faith community in a very homophobic environment.
We spent time with Dr. Mendoza who established Clinica Cristo Rey, serving the poorest of the poor in a barrio in Juarez. We toured her medical and dental clinic, supported only by volunteers, donations, and whatever payment her patients can afford. Dr. Mendoza described the cycle of generational poverty that is ensured when mothers cannot give birth in a hospital unless they have a Mexican birth certificate themselves. A child must be born in a hospital to have a birth certificate and, without one, cannot get into school or get a decent job or vote. And so, in addition to caring for the physical needs of her patients, Dr. Mendoza has become a relentless and determined advocate helping her clients get their "papers". As if that is not enough, she uses her clinic as an opportunity to mentor and nurture young people from the community, and she advocates for the rights of indigenous people in Mexico. Some of us saw her as the Mother Teresa of her barrio in Juarez.
The people who most captured my heart today were the women of Centro Santa Catalina. We walked into their space full of the sounds of sewing machines, and talking, and laughter. They welcomed us with smiles, coffee, hot chocolate, and Mexican pastries. Their handcrafted scarves, shawls, aprons, purses, bags and more filled every surface with vivid color and beautiful patterns. They answered our questions patiently, often asked in halting Spanish, about their work together and their lives. We learned about their history coming together originally as a prayer group 16 years ago and now involving more than 25 women who make beautiful handcrafts and share the profits. They started making paper flowers and pinatas, then dresses and shirts with donations of cloth from people in El Paso. The older women could no longer work in the maquila factories and selling these items provided income for their families. Some told us about the "macho" culture in which they live where they don't have much of a voice or role in the affairs of their families. This has changed with their involvement in the cooperative. They shared stories about their lives outside of the cooperative, lives touched by violence and even murder, but they laughed about participating in the Zumba classes that their husbands don't know about. Every woman has family members in the United States, most of whom cannot return because they are undocumented. One woman told us about her 19 year old daughter living in the U.S. without papers, who she has not seen since the daughter was 14. Some told us they have hopes that they will see their family members again because of President Obama's recent executive actions. They sent us off with hugs, and smiles, and wishes that some day we would return.
These are only some of the courageous people we met, living their lives with faith and hope in conditions that are difficult for most of us to imagine.
The day ended with Marty Haugen's benefit concert hosted by St. Pius X church in El Paso singing beloved and inspiring songs that feel so right in this place.
January 13, 2015: Lisa Rawlins
Pictured at left: Some of our dinner guests this evening — mother and her two-month-old daughter
Day 2 of the Border immersion trip challenged each member of our group to acknowledge how inextricably connected our country's policies and economy are tied to the reasons that compel immigrants to leave their beloved homelands. We were confronted with the reality that thousands of Central Americans fled in the summer of 2014 and continue to flee now as the result of our country's demand for cocaine, which translates into powerful drug cartels and gangs that terrorize the neighborhoods in which they operate. We also learned that the CBP, custom and border patrol, is the largest, most highly funded law enforcement agency in the U.S. Where CBP has technology and resources in abundance, it lacks training and oversight. The CBP's lack of accountability is exacerbated by the fact that the zone within 100 miles of the U.S.'s international borders is a constitutional free zone in which the CBP has more freedom to arrest and detain immigrants. We learned all this and more at two organizations doing important justice work on the border: Annunciation House and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.
We started our day by walking next door to Annunciation house, a shelter for immigrants founded in 1978 by Ruben Garcia. Ryan, a volunteer who has lived there for 15 months, gave us a tour of the building and provided a brief history of Annunciation house. Annunciation house is guided by Catholic values but operates independently of the local dioceses. The house has chosen not to seek any government funding and instead relies soley on private donations.
In the chapel, Ruben Garcia himself provided a detailed and heartfelt narrative about the influx of immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras that came last summer. He spoke passionately about the difficult choices mothers have had to make to send their children away to save them from death, gang recruitment, and rape. He explained that coyotes (smugglers) incorrectly told their customers that if they went to the United States, they would not be deported and they would be given permits to stay. He described how 5,000 volunteers in El Paso stepped up to the plate to accommodate hundreds of migrants sent by CBP from south Texas to El Paso on buses and planes. As Ruben spoke, it was evident that his dedication to the immigrants is at the core of his being.
On our drive to Las Cruces, New Mexico to visit the New Mexico ACLU office, we could see the border fence and the Mexican mountains and houses on the other side. The border was becoming closer and realer every moment. In Las Cruces, Brian Erickson gave a presentation about the CBP. We learned that the CBP has killed innocent immigrants with impunity, in large part due to the constitutional free zone and the lack of oversight of this huge federal agency.
Back at the Columban Mission, we prepared a dinner of chili, salad and cornbread to share with the guests at Annunciation House. About 40 guests joined us at the Mission for good food, fellowship, and an opportunity to tell us their stories. Adorable children won over our hearts with their laughter, and the children were won over by Marty and his guitar. Many of the guests' stories were heartbreaking, but their hope and resilience was amazing. It was the perfect end to a long day.
Pictured at left: Some of our dinner guests this evening — mother and her two-month-old daughter
Day 2 of the Border immersion trip challenged each member of our group to acknowledge how inextricably connected our country's policies and economy are tied to the reasons that compel immigrants to leave their beloved homelands. We were confronted with the reality that thousands of Central Americans fled in the summer of 2014 and continue to flee now as the result of our country's demand for cocaine, which translates into powerful drug cartels and gangs that terrorize the neighborhoods in which they operate. We also learned that the CBP, custom and border patrol, is the largest, most highly funded law enforcement agency in the U.S. Where CBP has technology and resources in abundance, it lacks training and oversight. The CBP's lack of accountability is exacerbated by the fact that the zone within 100 miles of the U.S.'s international borders is a constitutional free zone in which the CBP has more freedom to arrest and detain immigrants. We learned all this and more at two organizations doing important justice work on the border: Annunciation House and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.
We started our day by walking next door to Annunciation house, a shelter for immigrants founded in 1978 by Ruben Garcia. Ryan, a volunteer who has lived there for 15 months, gave us a tour of the building and provided a brief history of Annunciation house. Annunciation house is guided by Catholic values but operates independently of the local dioceses. The house has chosen not to seek any government funding and instead relies soley on private donations.
In the chapel, Ruben Garcia himself provided a detailed and heartfelt narrative about the influx of immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras that came last summer. He spoke passionately about the difficult choices mothers have had to make to send their children away to save them from death, gang recruitment, and rape. He explained that coyotes (smugglers) incorrectly told their customers that if they went to the United States, they would not be deported and they would be given permits to stay. He described how 5,000 volunteers in El Paso stepped up to the plate to accommodate hundreds of migrants sent by CBP from south Texas to El Paso on buses and planes. As Ruben spoke, it was evident that his dedication to the immigrants is at the core of his being.
On our drive to Las Cruces, New Mexico to visit the New Mexico ACLU office, we could see the border fence and the Mexican mountains and houses on the other side. The border was becoming closer and realer every moment. In Las Cruces, Brian Erickson gave a presentation about the CBP. We learned that the CBP has killed innocent immigrants with impunity, in large part due to the constitutional free zone and the lack of oversight of this huge federal agency.
Back at the Columban Mission, we prepared a dinner of chili, salad and cornbread to share with the guests at Annunciation House. About 40 guests joined us at the Mission for good food, fellowship, and an opportunity to tell us their stories. Adorable children won over our hearts with their laughter, and the children were won over by Marty and his guitar. Many of the guests' stories were heartbreaking, but their hope and resilience was amazing. It was the perfect end to a long day.
January 12, 2015: Diane Haines
Mayflower is in the border town of El Paso, Texas, supporting immigrants and the amazing people who work with them and learning about U.S. immigration policy. Just across the Rio Grande is Juarez, Mexico, a city of over 2,000,000. The 17-member delegation includes eleven from (Jess Manner, Dave Manner, Jospehine Fernandez, Lisa Rawlins, Gretchen Griffin, Marty and Linda Haugen, Linnea Champ, Maren Carey, Thom and Diane Haines). Minnesota Conference Minister, Rev. Shari Prestemon, is with the group as is Rev. Wendy Taylor of Lacey, Washington (author of No Longer Strangers: the Practice of Radical Hospitality), Holly Brady of Northern California, Rev. Tyler Connelly of New Mexico and Coordinator of Immigrant Care for the Southwest Synod, and Vicki and Peter Schmidt of Fargo, ND. Vicki is the director of Abriendo Fronteras.
It has been a good day of beginning to witness some of the places in El Paso that have been helpful to immigrants. We spent part of the afternoon visiting Nazareth Hall where immigrants are brought when they are released from detention by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Immigrants spend up to three days in Nazareth Hall where they are given a clean and warm place to stay and given clothes and personal supplies for their journey to where their sponsor lives. This entire operation is staffed from month to month by volunteers from various churches. This is an important ministry to immigrants who have come from a treacherous journey and a very unpleasant experience in detention.
We visited Trinity UCC church in El Paso. This is a church of 20 people whose Spanish is the primary language. Jessie Sustiata, a licensed UCC minister, has led the church for seven years and shares the work with her husband. They provide a safe haven for youth seeking refuge from gangs. Among other activities, they take the kids on camping trips and hiking excursions. With few funding sources, the church is a vibrant place of ministry with Zumba classes, youth activities and opportunities for sharing lives. The church is a strong ministry of presence and is deeply embedded in the community. Jessie said to us, "God has always blessed Trinity. We do a lot with little money." It was apparent that they have a love for their church and a pride about it, both of which keep them going. It was clear to me that they could use both emotional and financial support for the important work that they do. I felt so blessed to be a part of the UCC with them.
Mayflower Church
106 East Diamond Lake Road | Minneapolis, MN 55419
Mayflower is in the border town of El Paso, Texas, supporting immigrants and the amazing people who work with them and learning about U.S. immigration policy. Just across the Rio Grande is Juarez, Mexico, a city of over 2,000,000. The 17-member delegation includes eleven from (Jess Manner, Dave Manner, Jospehine Fernandez, Lisa Rawlins, Gretchen Griffin, Marty and Linda Haugen, Linnea Champ, Maren Carey, Thom and Diane Haines). Minnesota Conference Minister, Rev. Shari Prestemon, is with the group as is Rev. Wendy Taylor of Lacey, Washington (author of No Longer Strangers: the Practice of Radical Hospitality), Holly Brady of Northern California, Rev. Tyler Connelly of New Mexico and Coordinator of Immigrant Care for the Southwest Synod, and Vicki and Peter Schmidt of Fargo, ND. Vicki is the director of Abriendo Fronteras.
It has been a good day of beginning to witness some of the places in El Paso that have been helpful to immigrants. We spent part of the afternoon visiting Nazareth Hall where immigrants are brought when they are released from detention by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Immigrants spend up to three days in Nazareth Hall where they are given a clean and warm place to stay and given clothes and personal supplies for their journey to where their sponsor lives. This entire operation is staffed from month to month by volunteers from various churches. This is an important ministry to immigrants who have come from a treacherous journey and a very unpleasant experience in detention.
We visited Trinity UCC church in El Paso. This is a church of 20 people whose Spanish is the primary language. Jessie Sustiata, a licensed UCC minister, has led the church for seven years and shares the work with her husband. They provide a safe haven for youth seeking refuge from gangs. Among other activities, they take the kids on camping trips and hiking excursions. With few funding sources, the church is a vibrant place of ministry with Zumba classes, youth activities and opportunities for sharing lives. The church is a strong ministry of presence and is deeply embedded in the community. Jessie said to us, "God has always blessed Trinity. We do a lot with little money." It was apparent that they have a love for their church and a pride about it, both of which keep them going. It was clear to me that they could use both emotional and financial support for the important work that they do. I felt so blessed to be a part of the UCC with them.
Mayflower Church
106 East Diamond Lake Road | Minneapolis, MN 55419
