Border Journey: Desert Church

Today was an early morning. It is a long drive to the border so we had to get a jump on it. Our plan was to fill some of the Humane Borders water tanks, walk the desert, and potential meet some migrants on their journey.

Vandals wasted precious water. 

We got more than we bargained for this morning. When we arrived at our meeting point, Joel from Humane Borders greeted us. He had a real hippie look to him, humble as he hoped out of the water tanker truck and came to greet us. He was just a volunteer, going our in the desert to help people and brought us with him.

The drive through the desert is scary when you look at vegetation that evolved to grow in a place where nothing is supposed to live... but yet migrants have been forced to pass through that part of the country. When we arrived at our first water station it was tipped... someone must of rammed a truck into it, those 500 pound barrels don't fall over in the wind. It was a shame that we had to pour the water out from the barrel in order to get it lifted and back into place. Luckily Joel had enough water in his tank to fill it and have enough for other stops. Who would do that? Who would knowingly knock over water that is designed to safe someone's life? It would be like putting holes in the bottom of life boats on a ship.

Water Bottles from Mexico

Joel was a simple man but impressive. He didn't speak much, but his replies were powerful. When asked if he was religious he said, "The desert is my church. I think God will forgive me for missing on Sundays." Lessons like that inspire you, they show you God, in the right places, doing the right things. Then we walked the desert and saw all the proof of people crossing, their water bottles, places where they slept, and all the thorns and cacti that they ran through... brutal.

The afternoon taught us about the horrible truth, how people die in the desert. We met with the Pima County Coroner. What does a coroner have to do with immigration? Well he tries to identify the 2,500 human remains found on the border, so he is involved in immigration. He went to school to be a forensic anthropologist, I doubt he ever thought that one of his greatest accomplishments would be helping to invent a way to get fingerprints from decomposed fingers so he could notify family in another country.

Our last speaker of the group was Lauren from Florence Project. I related a lot because she was an advocate, who ran a non-profit trying to provide support... it was great for our legal folks to get to talk about cases and how they were helping families. It's interesting how different it is what is happening there, versus what is happening for us... the amount of variance also helps show how flawed the system is. Her and I talked personally afterward and share some common sentiments on challenges for fundraising, identifying priorities and keeping an org running in the right direction.

Then our trip ended... fittingly with great Mexican food and fellowship. We shared our highlights, our struggles and our hopes for when we get back. We have to believe change will come, and that we will pledge to help making that change come. I plan to write more and post more, and I hope to work more with this group from Notre Dame.

#GoIrish

Border Journey: A Cowboy, A Hippie, Wonder Woman and an Accountant

Lois sharing her experience

Monday we crossed the border.
Tuesday the border crossed us.

We started the morning with a meeting with some important advocacy groups. We heard inspiring words from Yesenia from Mariposas Sin Fronteras, and Lois Martin from No More Deaths and End StreamLine Coalition.

The stories they shared, especially Yesenia's, were shocking. Her treatment, the treatment of others... under the watch of our government was appalling. To hear the things your government does, and then justifies and covers up through crazy legal proceedings was almost unbelievable.

It has been inspirational to sit and listen to folks like Lois Martin. She is a retired professor who now spends her time on the border. You could see the emotional toll that her work takes on her, but in her eyes you felt the ray of hope she had that change will come, and that her work would help, and that she must keep on.

My Egg

Then it was lunch... While I joke about the vegetarian cooking, I really do appreciate the simple square meals. Today was a soup to warmed us before heading to a cold court. We were rationed to one egg per bowl. I sat, and then Lois joined me. We got to have a nice casual conversation about things like how grandmas never remember recipes cause they don't measure things, and the importance of childhood education. I thanked her and then I washed dishes. We are at a small center and we prep and clean up after ourselves. Not all advocacy involves getting arrested, sometimes it's washing dishes. We are here to bear witness.

After our meal we went to the court to watch "Operation Streamline". Of all the disappointing things of that session for me was that we convinced the people going through that we were doing them a favor... that this was a good thing what we were doing for them. I guess similar to how most Americans believe that its a good thing for our country to fight this phantom menace. The magistrate deported 28 people in 50 minutes. Not a record I guess, but still an embarrassment of justice.

Professor Moreno

Then I got tapped by our film crew... they wanted to interview me about the role La Casa de Amistad plays in Community Based Learning classes. They interviewed Professor Marisel Moreno who has been sending students to La Casa for over 5 years. I felt like I was on an "E True Hollywood Story" but about something that matters. Hopefully they can help us spread the word about the good work happening when academics and real world meet. It's a beautiful change cocktail.

Then I had a powerful experience of watching four clergy from different denominations speak to us about involving the church in advocacy. This panel wasn't the usual suspects, I searched to describe them and my best is that it was A Cowboy, A Hippie, Wonder Woman and an Accountant. Their styles of dress and activism couldn't have been more different. One sang a song, one wore cowboy boots, one defended Border Agents, one swore like a sailor... but they all said, you have to do what you can, and get others to come to do what they can do. I needed to hear that you can't expect people to do what you want them to, you can only hope they do the most they can do.

Fences Everywhere

As we were wrapping up I shared with the group about an email we got at La Casa earlier in the day... that some of the raids ordered by the President happened in Elkhart last night. No details yet, but this is just starting to get bad... what will you do about it? The border just crossed us, no more time to believe it doesn't impact you. So the phantom menace is near us now, its close, what are we going to do about it?

The song singing got me thinking and not sure why I thought of this song... but I did and I read the lyrics and thought I would share. Plus I like the song so here is a link to Fire and Rain by James Taylor.

Border Journey: Rain and Sunshine

The Wall

This morning we left at 6AM... we ate quick and headed down the highway across the Sonoran desert to Nogales Mexico. The cold came, the rains came, but we were protected inside our large passenger van. If you have never crossed a border let me tell you that nearly each time brings a heavy feeling, today it was heavier.

The feeling of heavy weighed because we know what we would see and hear would challenge our perceptions and bring us in a very unadulterated fashion with America's phantom menace... undocumented immigrants.

My friends that knew I was coming know that I have been trying to prepare my myself emotionally for what I would see at the border. I wasn't prepared.

My friend getting interviewed

It rained and was cold in Mexico. We went to work with the Kino Border Initiative who run a shelter and place for deported migrants to get lunch and other critical services. We met the humble Father Pete Neely and his team of volunteers and Jesuits. we served meals and got to talk to migrants and hear their stories. We have an ND Camera crew here documenting our journey to tell this story to a broader audience. So we stick out when we travel...

I am still processing and taking in what I heard. I was blessed to talk to a father of three kids who are back in Mesa with his wife. His son goes to high school near my in-laws, he has kids my age, his wife is home alone with three kids... like mine right now. So yeah, still soaking that in, and my wife and kids are a comfortable plane ride away.

We had a great lunch and while the food was amazing, the atmosphere was still fairly somber. Luckily the group wasn't overly picky on the food. I enjoyed a Corona in Mexico. We got to meet the owner, I bought some Cuban rum around the corner, and we walked around the town and along the ever present wall.

Mission San Xavier

Interestingly as we left the border the sun came out. We got waived through the border with no problems, one quick question, one quick yes, and back in the USA. On the road back we stopped at Mission San Xavier de Bac which is on the lands of the Tohono people. We noted how interesting it was the sun peaked during our stop at the church.

Afterwards we met with a powerful activists from Derechos Humanos (Human Rights) organization. The director, Isabel Garcia, broke down legal issues, talked about project streamline, and reminded us about the importance of advocacy if we hope for things to get better any time soon. Her words came with a special bite and passion and while nearly making the challenge seem impossible... made it clear we must all find ways to help.

Like yesterday during mass she had three important words for us that struck a cord....

Fear. Ignorance. Arrogance.

We ended the night with some drinks, and just relaxing with some of the folks on the trip. Tomorrow we will go to a federal courthouse and watch the fabled operation streamline... Do some research 

Couple more powerful days... stay tuned and check my Facebook for additional photos.

Border Journey: Mariachi Mass

Airport Cactus Selfie

I arrived in Tucson on Saturday with a group of from the University of Notre Dame. Most of the group is ND faculty, I am here representing La Casa de Amistad as a university community partner. We are here to learn about border issues and are working with a company called Border Issues. When I heard about the trip I couldn't pass up on the opportunity.

We arrived and of course the weather was the first thing I noticed... I know it won't be the most impactful thing this week and I can't wait for all this trip has to offer. I really enjoyed about today was learning more about my group. It was interestingly to hear the backgrounds of my group, to learn about their kids, their backgrounds, their academic and personal interests and why they wanted to come on this trip.

Listening to Lupe Castillo

Sunday morning we got to the grind right away... early mornings and late nights will be the name of the game this week. It reminds me of the times I spent taking students on Alternative Spring Breaks many years ago... like the long days in Honduras with my students from Albion College or my time in the Appalachians with IUSB students. It was nice not being in charge on this trip... I get to sit back and learn and focus on everything Border Links our host organization set up for us.

We started the morning with Guadalupe Castillo, a community organizer who has been involved in too many organizations to list. She told a great story of the history of immigration, but what impressed me the most was when I asked her about her greatest accomplishment... she listed things that others did... so humble. Then she said she is proudest of what some of her former students accomplished. Her humbleness touched me, and inspired me to remember to not seek personal recognition, but to fight a good fight regardless of personal credit.

Beautiful bell at Southside Preb

Then we went to a Mariachi Mass at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. It was such a beautiful blend of cultures with the music in Spanish, but the mass lead in Spanish and the room was extremely diverse. The homily was about learning from a journey... what a fitting way to focus our minds and hearts. It was a story of the three wisemen, and they they had to have faith, trust, and be willing to give in order to make an impact.

Faith. Trust. Willingness To Give. 

After a quick lunch we went for a special Samaritan training at Southside Presbyterian. This church was one of the key places of the Sanctuary Movement. It was four powerful hours of learning about the number of deaths in the desert, the legal rights of humanitarian workers on the border, and then real world training on how we will be able to help in the desert.

Of course we need some fun on the trip... and while our center is fully vegetarian that means I went over 24 hours without meat. So we took a long walk home that happened to include a stop at a place that sells a great Sonoran Dog...

I was really moved because it reminds me that the work of La Casa de Amistad is making a difference, and that I need to find ways to involve and include even more people in the work that we do there. I also love to see the perspectives of others and learn why and how they formed their opinions.

Tomorrow we cross the border... we will go to a comedor where migrants who have been deported go for a meal. I am preparing myself for another focused day of reflection and introspection.

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