Life on the Border

Seven Last Words

by Santiago Saavedra

     Good Friday was the end of our immersion trip. It was hard for me to organize and process the many activities we did, all the people we met and all the stories we heard of the migrants. My best attempt at organizing them was reflecting on the seven last words of Christ on the cross. 

     “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” 

Some US legislators are creating anti-immigrant laws that ignore family ties and economic justice. Also, border patrols and many law enforcement agents are given permission to act out of their own prejudices to discriminate against Latino people. It is unavoidable to look at the wall on the border and not think about concentration camps.

     “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

Many coyotes that offer migrants guidance through the dessert probably said these words, because thousands of migrants desire a job and better living conditions with the American dream. But for many the journey ends up in a heavenly paradise.

     “Dear woman, here is your son.” 

When a farmer decides to migrate, he usually leaves the family behind. For them leaving to find a job and be able to send money home is an act of love. We could experience this in the family pictures that we looked at that were found abandoned in the desert.

     “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 

In a detention center for unaccompanied minors we met seventy teenagers that were not allowed to play freely as other kids because they didn’t have documents. They haven’t been able to locate their families, however they attend Mass faithfully and hopefully will be studying hard to take advantage of an education or the scholarships available.

     “I am thirsty” 

The journey through the desert to cross the border illegally takes around six days and temperatures in the summer are typically above one hundred degrees. The Samaritans is a humanitarian group that leaves gallons of water in certain strategic points, but in some cases the border patrol have cut the containers. Dehydration is the main cause of death for the two thousand migrants that have perished on the journey.

     “It is finished!” 

In a Tucson courtroom they process up to seventy immigrants a day. The migrants have their hands, waist and feet chained together. One by one, they repeat their country of origin, acknowledge they entered the US on a certain date, declare they didn’t enter by an authorized port of entry and finally declare themselves guilty. The script is set and there is nothing that changes the course of the sentence. The only ray of hope was when we witnessed the release an immigrant that spoke an indigenous dialect and couldn’t understand Spanish or English.

     “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”

Many of the items found in the desert are little prayer cards with images of Jesus or the Virgin Mary. We also saw some pictures of migrants that go to church before starting their journey. They are aware of some of the dangers, but the desire to reunite with their family on the other side of the wall, makes them take the risk.

Frontiers

by Isabel Palomar

     Setting frontiers between nations is necessary for our organization as human communities. However, a problem arises when we forget about their artificiality. Pretending that they are real beginnings or ends will not change the fact that they are not. During this trip to Arizona on Spring Break, some of my fellow students and I learned that there is much suffering involved in failing to understand that reality.

     Viewing the migrant as the criminal and enemy is a product of deep fear. Even with evidence showing all the positive things brought by Mexican and Central American immigration to this country, fear is a blinding sickness. When in fear, all become a threat to our security and wellbeing: fear turns into hate. Meanwhile, we fail to our duty of assisting our brothers and sisters who are hungry, thirsty cold and alone, and who very often die that way. 

     After meeting with various groups and organizations who work for the rights of immigrants, each from a different spot, I am convinced that much hope and joy exists in those who bravely follow the path of justice and compassion. Let our hearts be open to this calling from God, remembering that man’s laws are ever changing, but God’s stays firm and clear on our duty as Christians.