So, I haven't had a terrible amount of time to blog in the past couple weeks. My weeks have been generally very full, and I've gotten off schedule with updating my blog. I will try to be more regular in the coming weeks.
I am amidst week four of being in my position, and it is beginning to feel somewhat regular, fairly routine. The staff at Cristo Rey is very limited (pastor, part-time secretary, another Border Servant Corps volunteer, and myself) and we can basically make our own hours. The mornings are filled with contacting potential groups for the Border Immersion Experience and planning trips for the future, while my afternoons are spent primarily working with the after school program, "La Mansion" that is run through the church. Although in numbers the after school program is down this year, the kids (elementary age) are certainly a handful for the other volunteer and myself. When I finally get home at 7ish, I am absolutely exhausted. I can see the vast differences of having a full-time job and the sheltered idealistic bubble that is college. I am also beginning to understand the nature of non-profit work, everything is no ones job, which makes it your job!
The community that Cristo Rey serves is on the margins of society. These are the people who came for much of the same reasons as my ancestors. If we are indeed a country built by immigrants, a nation that embraces our diverse heritage, why must we scorn and hate these individuals that are coming for the same reasons as our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. Racism is apparent in the faces of individuals like Joe Arpaio and Jan Brewer, who make a living on the sheer hate of mankind. As they continue to persecute individuals in the state of Arizona, I am able through my job at Cristo Rey to see the unbridled love of the family unit, of the community. Unfortunately, the way money is distributed in this country does not seem to favor some of my new friends and the community they have built.
The church cannot sustain itself through collection, and as the recession continues, the national Lutheran community is withdrawing more and more funds to churches like Cristo Rey. Because of the many services that we provide, any money coming into the church is spent immediately. We are incredibly short staffed, and rely heavily on the border immersions that come through the church to make some sort of profit. A rude awakening came just a week ago for me, when my first immersion group canceled because they were concerned that the violence had spilled over from Juarez into El Paso. As the media continues to paint the picture of a war zone on both sides of the border, violence continues to increase in Juarez, while decreasing in El Paso. People simply do not want to come down to El Paso, which is costing Cristo Rey tens of thousands of dollars. Our current debt is approaching $25,000 and while we laugh and celebrate together every week, the debt is beginning to hit home for the community that truly benefits from our services.
The past few weeks we have been preparing for our 9th anniversary as an independent church. Cristo Rey has been around much longer, but the 9th anniversary marks the date that we were kicked out of our host church, which decided that a ministry in the Spanish language was not the direction that they wanted to take. In effort to alleviate our debt, we have begun a campaign to find 1000 friends, individuals that have been touched in some way by the ministries of Cristo Rey. We are asking that these 1000 friends make donations of $25, so that we may not need to worry about old bills or unpaid utilities. We simply want to move forward and continue to provide for the community. Cristo Rey is a symbol of hope in downtown El Paso and will continue to shine bright with passion and love. Unfortunetely while we struggle to make bill payments each month, we are forced to listen to politicians each day speak words of hate at individuals that we have come to love.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
La Migra
"La migra" can refer to several different things depending upon where it is said. In most of the US, it refers to ICE (Immigration and Customs Inforcement). These are the individuals decked out in bullet-proof vests who serve primarily to remove people of undocumented status from the United States. They can be found all across the nation operating detention facilities which house individuals awaiting removal proceedings or raiding the local farm or factory in search of "illegals" (take note that I am not advocating the use of this term). They operate in various other sectors as well, but I only wish to detail how they fit into the world of the immigrant.
When "la migra" is spoken or heard along the border, it most commonly refers to something very different than ICE, the US Border Patrol. These are the people guarding our borders, ensuring that the "American Identity" stays a fairly homogeneous blend of multi-generation European American immigrants. In my time spent on the border thus far, I have struggled with the existence of these heavily armed watch guards. While I may not agree with the tactics they use or motivations to serve in the Border Patrol, I understand that some sort of protection on both the northern and southern borders is necessary. I may cringe every time I see a Border Patrol van or black hawk helicopter surveying the desert, but I am beginning to realize that much of the splendor associated with becoming a Border Patrol agent has to do with the fact that it is a high paying government job with substantial benefits, operating heavily in impoverished communities.
I have had the chance to speak with some Border Patrol agents within the recent weeks, some encounters have been planned, while others have not. It has become clear to me that their almost limitless budget has been liberally spent in the area of public relations. It is possible for anyone to simply call the telephone hotline and schedule a meeting with an agent at the fence. The spokespeople that they send are generally very well-spoken individuals that know what they are talking about and who they are talking to. They are the "best of the best" in their field and can be somewhat convincing. They stand in front of the fence and basically just talk about their jobs. Of course there are things that they can and cannot say, and they generally refuse to answer opinion related questions, but even in the scheduled encounters there is ample room for questions to be asked. It is worth noting that most of the Border Patrol agents that I have encountered have been polite, respectful, and so bored sitting alone in their trucks in the desert that they have wanted nothing more than just someone to talk to.
Of course there are always exceptions, and not everyone is trained to speak with groups. As part of the Border Immersion Experience that I am coordinating this year, we speak with some friends on the other side of the fence through the chain links. As part of my training and orientation, it is important for me to meet our partners before I am with groups, so I accompanied two of the previous program volunteers and a housemate to the fence the meet our new friends. Any activity at the fence attracts "la migra", so within moments of the start of our conversation we were surrounded by about 5 trucks. They did not interrupt our conversation or question us, but kept a keen eye to ensure that no illegal activity would take place. As the conversation was wrapping up, one of the women remembered that she had something to mail in the US. Because it is easier and cheaper to mail within the US, she slipped us an envelope through a cut in the fence to place in the mail. This immediately caused a rise with the Border Patrol and within seconds there were 10 people out of their cars to question the transaction that just occurred. One of the agents seemed particularly suspicious of our actions. She looked no older than a junior in high school, but compensated for her apparent youth with a bad attitude. After lecturing us about valid ports of entry she called the women back to the fence and returned the letter. There is nothing like being scolded by the Border Patrol on one of your first days of work!
In effort to stay somewhat brief, I will wrap this post up. I came into this experience feeling one way about Border Patrol, but now I am somewhat conflicted. We cannot criminalize these individuals for doing the job that voters support. Oddly enough, most of the Border Patrol agents that I have met come from Mexican descent, just looking to make a living. They see their position more as a way to pay the bills than anything else. "La migra" is very well-funded, and it is apparent in their appearance. They all have brand new vehicles and tend to boast about their numerous gadgets. They carry a gun and several canisters of pepper spray, although most would argue against the level of their ammunition. The fact that Border Patrol carry guns is particularly baffling to me.
The more I see, the more I learn. As I progress on my journey, I am beginning to realize that I really do not know much. I am anxious to challenge myself, as this is only one of many conflicting realities that I will grapple with.
When "la migra" is spoken or heard along the border, it most commonly refers to something very different than ICE, the US Border Patrol. These are the people guarding our borders, ensuring that the "American Identity" stays a fairly homogeneous blend of multi-generation European American immigrants. In my time spent on the border thus far, I have struggled with the existence of these heavily armed watch guards. While I may not agree with the tactics they use or motivations to serve in the Border Patrol, I understand that some sort of protection on both the northern and southern borders is necessary. I may cringe every time I see a Border Patrol van or black hawk helicopter surveying the desert, but I am beginning to realize that much of the splendor associated with becoming a Border Patrol agent has to do with the fact that it is a high paying government job with substantial benefits, operating heavily in impoverished communities.
I have had the chance to speak with some Border Patrol agents within the recent weeks, some encounters have been planned, while others have not. It has become clear to me that their almost limitless budget has been liberally spent in the area of public relations. It is possible for anyone to simply call the telephone hotline and schedule a meeting with an agent at the fence. The spokespeople that they send are generally very well-spoken individuals that know what they are talking about and who they are talking to. They are the "best of the best" in their field and can be somewhat convincing. They stand in front of the fence and basically just talk about their jobs. Of course there are things that they can and cannot say, and they generally refuse to answer opinion related questions, but even in the scheduled encounters there is ample room for questions to be asked. It is worth noting that most of the Border Patrol agents that I have encountered have been polite, respectful, and so bored sitting alone in their trucks in the desert that they have wanted nothing more than just someone to talk to.
Of course there are always exceptions, and not everyone is trained to speak with groups. As part of the Border Immersion Experience that I am coordinating this year, we speak with some friends on the other side of the fence through the chain links. As part of my training and orientation, it is important for me to meet our partners before I am with groups, so I accompanied two of the previous program volunteers and a housemate to the fence the meet our new friends. Any activity at the fence attracts "la migra", so within moments of the start of our conversation we were surrounded by about 5 trucks. They did not interrupt our conversation or question us, but kept a keen eye to ensure that no illegal activity would take place. As the conversation was wrapping up, one of the women remembered that she had something to mail in the US. Because it is easier and cheaper to mail within the US, she slipped us an envelope through a cut in the fence to place in the mail. This immediately caused a rise with the Border Patrol and within seconds there were 10 people out of their cars to question the transaction that just occurred. One of the agents seemed particularly suspicious of our actions. She looked no older than a junior in high school, but compensated for her apparent youth with a bad attitude. After lecturing us about valid ports of entry she called the women back to the fence and returned the letter. There is nothing like being scolded by the Border Patrol on one of your first days of work!
In effort to stay somewhat brief, I will wrap this post up. I came into this experience feeling one way about Border Patrol, but now I am somewhat conflicted. We cannot criminalize these individuals for doing the job that voters support. Oddly enough, most of the Border Patrol agents that I have met come from Mexican descent, just looking to make a living. They see their position more as a way to pay the bills than anything else. "La migra" is very well-funded, and it is apparent in their appearance. They all have brand new vehicles and tend to boast about their numerous gadgets. They carry a gun and several canisters of pepper spray, although most would argue against the level of their ammunition. The fact that Border Patrol carry guns is particularly baffling to me.
The more I see, the more I learn. As I progress on my journey, I am beginning to realize that I really do not know much. I am anxious to challenge myself, as this is only one of many conflicting realities that I will grapple with.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Fence en la Frontera
The United States and Mexico share a border of almost 2000 miles, ranging from eastern Texas to California. This physical border takes on many shapes and sizes depending on the area. Much of this border is in the desert and free of any physical reinforcements. Other areas of la frontera are dilineated by the Rio Grande, better known in Mexico as the Rio Bravo, which provides a natural border where it is wide enough intimidate potential immigration. Of the approximately 2000 miles of US-Mexico border, roughly 350 of those miles are divided by a pedestrian fence according to the Department of Homeland Security. This fence does not have one uniform look, but has many different faces in different areas. Another 300 miles or so are seperated by vehicular fencing. While congress calls for more and more money invested into beefing up the border, the fence has become stronger and more technologically advanced. The word fence does not do justice to the new "state of the art" fence that has been errected in El Paso. While the physical fence gives the impression of an unwelcoming neighbor, this is just one of the many tactics employed by our government to keep individuals out of our country. Once over the fence, individuals will need to deal with sensors implanted in the ground, countless border patrol agents strategically placed, blackhawk helicopters on constant surveillance, and a terrain of perfectly raked dirt to enable tracking of individuals very similar to tactics used by experienced game hunters stalking prey.
These are a couple pictures that I have taken of the border in the El Paso area. This particular fence divides a more rural area of El Paso from Anapra, Mexico. As you can see, the fence on this part of the border is still fairly primitive and has not yet been updated to the fence that is used in the Juarez area. The more expensive fence utilized in the more urban areas of the El Paso/Juarez border is entirely built of a reddish steel, stands a few feet taller, and has much smaller mesh-like holes. Contrast this with the fence that divides San Diego from Tijuana.
This picture was taken a few years ago when I visited the San Diego/Tijuana border. This fence is constructed of corrugated tin and provides no way of seeing into Mexico. This particular portion of the border is devoted to individuals who have lost their lives crossing into the United States.
As more money is being pumped into reinforcing the fence and creating it more difficult for individuals to cross into the United States, we must understand the impact that this barrier is having on the entire country of people living on the other side. We have built this monstrosity as a country specifically to keep people out. Our tax dollars are filtering individuals to the desert, which is an extremely treacherous journey into the United States. Thousands of people have died trying to make it to the United States by way of desert, but as the fence grows larger and the number of border patrol agents keeps growing, people will risk their lives crossing through the desert to ensure the safety and well-being of their families. Is the fence really curbing illegal crossings or is it generating deaths in the dry and arid southwestern deserts?
This fence creates distinct claustrophobia as it keeps individuals away from their families. It has erased the once circular pattern of immigration. People are not risking their lives to steal our social services, they are risking their lives in attempt to save their families. By spending more and more on the fence while not creating appropriate legal way of entering the country, we are inherently saying that we are superior. Is this the message that we want to send?
Perhaps we should all take advice from some of the simple messages spoken by Mr. Rogers. Instead of working to keep people out, we should brainstorm ways to embrace our vecinos. Instead of screaming words of hate, we can ask "Won't you be my neighbor"?
These are a couple pictures that I have taken of the border in the El Paso area. This particular fence divides a more rural area of El Paso from Anapra, Mexico. As you can see, the fence on this part of the border is still fairly primitive and has not yet been updated to the fence that is used in the Juarez area. The more expensive fence utilized in the more urban areas of the El Paso/Juarez border is entirely built of a reddish steel, stands a few feet taller, and has much smaller mesh-like holes. Contrast this with the fence that divides San Diego from Tijuana.
This picture was taken a few years ago when I visited the San Diego/Tijuana border. This fence is constructed of corrugated tin and provides no way of seeing into Mexico. This particular portion of the border is devoted to individuals who have lost their lives crossing into the United States.
As more money is being pumped into reinforcing the fence and creating it more difficult for individuals to cross into the United States, we must understand the impact that this barrier is having on the entire country of people living on the other side. We have built this monstrosity as a country specifically to keep people out. Our tax dollars are filtering individuals to the desert, which is an extremely treacherous journey into the United States. Thousands of people have died trying to make it to the United States by way of desert, but as the fence grows larger and the number of border patrol agents keeps growing, people will risk their lives crossing through the desert to ensure the safety and well-being of their families. Is the fence really curbing illegal crossings or is it generating deaths in the dry and arid southwestern deserts?
This fence creates distinct claustrophobia as it keeps individuals away from their families. It has erased the once circular pattern of immigration. People are not risking their lives to steal our social services, they are risking their lives in attempt to save their families. By spending more and more on the fence while not creating appropriate legal way of entering the country, we are inherently saying that we are superior. Is this the message that we want to send?
Perhaps we should all take advice from some of the simple messages spoken by Mr. Rogers. Instead of working to keep people out, we should brainstorm ways to embrace our vecinos. Instead of screaming words of hate, we can ask "Won't you be my neighbor"?
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