Two of us from the Immigrant Connections team (Laura Gardner and Karen Brown) attended the Common Ground on the Border conference this past week in Sahuarita, Arizona, which is about a 45 minute drive from the Southern border (Nogales). This is the 11th year of this conference, but our first time attending.
This conference was at the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ (UCC) and about 200 people attended from around the country who wanted to learn about border issues. The organizers and speakers were primarily from all of the humanitarian agencies and initiatives in the Nogales area, on both sides of the border.
Field Trips
One unique thing about this conference was that the first day was focused on “field trips” to the border in collaboration with a number of non-profit organizations. Laura attended “A Day in Nogales, Mexico,” which was led by volunteers from the Green Valley/Sahuarita Samaritans. We started out by driving to the U.S. side of Nogales and then crossing the border by foot at the Deconcini Port of Entry to get to the Mexican side of Nogales. This was my first time crossing the border by foot, which was an eye-opening experience. We did not see anyone get detained or have any issues, but what was most interesting to me is how many kids cross the border every day to go to school (presumably private school).
Next, my group visited the Kino Border Initiative, which is an organization that provides direct humanitarian assistance and holistic accompaniment of migrants, including shelter if needed. Originally this organization primarily served migrants who were deported back to Nogales. Now, they also help people who are fleeing violence in other parts of Mexico as well as other countries (and not only from Latin America). For example, some individuals and families they serve have come from countries in Africa or Asia and have traveled to Mexico through the Darién gap. We toured the organization and were also able to spend a little bit of time giving out toys and candy to the children there.
The next stop for my group was across the street to another shelter, which is sponsored by Voices from the Border. They provide safe housing, food, clothing, and daily necessities for women and children who are waiting for their CBP One appointment to request asylum in the U.S. as well as for recently deported families. We gave these children toys and candy, too.
Following this, we went to the border wall to see the painting / memorial for José Antonio Elena Rodríguez, who was a 16 year old from Nogales who was murdered by border patrol in 2012, just four blocks from his home. Our tour guides shared with us that he was throwing rocks and then was shot ten times. The border agent was found not guilty. The Border Patrol Victims Network still regularly celebrates José's life, along with others who have been affected by Border Patrol brutality and those who seek justice for the victims.
Karen's group visited some of the same places my (Laura's) group did, but their main stop was Casa de la Misericordia which is a migrant shelter run by Sister Lika. They provide a safe and dignified space for single women, women with children and adolescents, and entire families seeking asylum in the U.S. The unique thing about this shelter is that it is a community built for and with migrants and it is actually managed by the migrants themselves. One of the main services on site is a school, so that children waiting to enter the U.S. can receive an education. Furthermore, it is actually recognized by the Secretary of Education of the State of Sonora.
Rest of the Conference
The rest of the conference on Friday and Saturday was a more traditional conference with speakers, but the organizers also did a great job of incorporating the arts, such as music, film, painting, weaving, and so on. There are so many people and organizations we met that I could include here, but it would take many pages, so here are a few highlights:
Dora Rodriguez, Founder of Salvavision and author of "Dora: A Daughter of Unforgiving Terrain" (coming out soon in Spring 2025). Dora is originally from El Salvador and fled the civil war in 1980 when she was 19 years old. She crossed the Sonoran desert with a smuggler and 45 other individuals, and was one of only 13 who survived the journey. She is the founder of Salvavision, an organization that helps families start their new life in the U.S. (Tucson area), provides humanitarian aid, and educates students, professors, social justice workers with field tours and webinars. Something that stuck with me was when she said:
“Things now are the worst I’ve ever seen it, but faith and action have to go together. We have to spread the wave of hope.”
Reyna Grande is the author of "The Distance Between Us" as well as a number of other books. Reyna was born in Mexico and separated from her father at 2 years old and her mother at 4 ½ years old and was not reunited with them until she was 9 ½. A couple of key quotes from her talk were:
“Migration is an act of love. It took me a long time to see that way, to see that what my parents did was an act of love. They didn’t leave because they didn’t love me.”
You can’t put a family back together and expect it to just be the same again. You don’t know each other anymore… my parents and I never fully recovered from our separation.”
Mike Wilson is the author of “What side are you on? A Tohono O’odham Life Across Borders.” Mike has the most interesting background! He is Native American (Tohono O’odham) and his career included U.S. Special Forces, a Presbyterian minister, a middle school ESL teacher, and more! During his retirement, one of his main activities is putting out water stations on the nearby reservation so migrants don’t die of thirst. His water stations are repeatedly vandalized by Border Patrol and others, so he labeled them Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. That didn’t work, so then he started putting out water jugs shaped like a cross. He was almost put on a federal terrorist watch list for putting water out in the desert, but he continues to do what’s right. A few powerful quotes from Mike were:
“There are two sets of laws I must follow – U.S. laws and higher universal moral laws. Which must I be obedient to above the other? I wish I could do both but I can’t. Where people are dying, I will be putting out water.”
“You have to think about whether you’re in violation of your moral code.”
“There isn’t absolute right or wrong. 95% of life is gray.”
Shura Wallin is 83 years young and co-founded the Green Valley / Sahuarita Samaritans with Pastor Randy Mayer in 2005. To this day, she does water drops in the desert and all sorts of amazing volunteering! She was with our group on Thursday in Nogales and it seemed like everywhere we went people knew her. Filmmaker David Damian Figueroa has created a film about her called Shura .
Margo Cowan is a retired public defender in Pima County, AZ who is part of the Justice for All campaign. This campaign is advocating for a public defender office for those going to immigration court, who don’t have a private attorney, which would be the first in the country! Margo’s talk was incredibly inspiring and motivating! She talked a lot about the importance of speaking to everyone about our experiences with (or as) immigrants, including at places like the grocery store check-out line. She emphasized that all of these day-to-day interactions chip away at and dissemble institutional hate. A couple of key quotes from Margo were:
“Vicious race-based immigration policies are a part of our history, starting with the 1883 Chinese Exclusion Act. This is all actually nothing new. President Biden didn’t really do anything differently when it comes to immigration.”
“It’s not enough to read the paper or watch the news – in this moment we have to do more and turn to all our circles of people and start where they are.”
Reflections
Upon leaving a conference like this, the predominant feeling is "Now what?" Here are both of our reflections.
Karen's Reflections
I've never been down to the border. That said, I'd like to point out how much of an emotional experience this was for me. While a part of me looked out into the Sonoran desert and mountains with awe and admiration of the beauty, the other part of me looked out at what most kept calling a graveyard.
I've thought of this desert for much of my life. I've thought of it during my mom's whispers as my family was coming from El Salvador, and I've thought of it while listening to my students speak of the days they walked. But being here and looking out into the land that has claimed thousands of lives, I feel a breath leave me. How many 14, 15, 16 year olds have gone in but never come out? How many would have been my students? How many were tias and tios of little Karens awaiting their arrival? How many mamis and papis?
These past three days have been gut-wrenching. I have felt everything from pain to outrage to resentment and disappointment. But mixed into these days was also another cluster of emotions and thoughts that overcame me more than hurt. I heard the call to action from Mike Wilson as he ignited a flame of anarchy and I felt empowered as I heard about the work of Dora Rodriguez as well as Shura Wallin at 83 years old!
I'm overtaken by the idea that there is work that can be done. In the midst of feeling helpless there is a way to feel hopeful and to do something. This weekend, Margo Cowan said that it was okay to be mad or upset on that one day last November, but that now, we must come together and act and do.
It's with that energy that I feel empowered and ready to find the space in which I can do my part. I am a U.S. citizen and someone who has fallen in love with this country, but I will not easily forget the way in which our deserts and our system claim the lives of my people. Rev. Pedro Goycolea said “they have weaponized these deserts,” and I for one will not forget this.
Laura's Reflections
Similar to Karen, I’m still processing all of which I felt and learned during these incredible three days, but one thing is for sure: despite hearing about all the death and suffering in the desert and everyone’s concerns about immigration, I’m leaving with a profound sense of hope, joy, and inspiration! In just three short days, I met so many incredible people and learned about so many humanitarian organizations and initiatives, that I can’t help but leave with a sense of hope.
Call to Action
All of the organizations we met greatly appreciate support from volunteers. We met many people who come once a year for a couple of weeks (or even months!) to help out in the migrant shelters, to do water drops, or anything else that needs to be done. Furthermore, all of the organizations linked to above rely heavily on donations. So please, click on some of the links above, learn about the issues specific to the border region, and think about investing some of your time or money. Many of the kids and families being helped by these organizations are your future students!