Day 5 Into Mexico

We saw a different type of Santa Claus on Wednesday, but this one wore a cowboy hat and gave different gifts.

This is Father Peter, who two years ago started the Kino Border Initiative, a program that feeds and clothes immigrants who've recently been deported from the U.S.  To immigrants, Father Peter is Santa.

We parked the vans just north of the border and walked into Nogales, Mexico.

With passports and documentation in hand, we were ready to be interrogated by a militarized border, only to be disappointed by walking through a turnstile gate like the one you'd find at Great America.  Nobody noticed or cared what we were doing.  It was like the old porch dog that couldn't be bothered.  No Americans were crossing into Mexico; just us and few day laborers.


After walking less than a 1/4 mile, we were ushered into a make-shift shelter made of tarps and barbed-wire, with two walls carved out of the hillside.  80 worn-down, exhausted, confused, saddened migrants were quietly sitting at tables, waiting for us to arrive.  

It was overwhelming to look into their faces and feel the oozing sadness in their eyes; the tables were turned and we were the outsiders.  One student said "it was like getting punched in the solarplex."


Before the meal was served, Father Peter called an 88 year old women from the kitchen to answer the question: "Why does she do what she does?"  As she looked into the eyes of immigrants, she said "because you all are my brothers and sisters...everyone is my brother and sister."

The comment brought tears to the faces of many of the migrants, who for so long have been stripped of their dignity.  The love of this little women consoled them and feed them and blessed them.  She also taught Alfonso how to cut tomatoes.

We served the immigrants the meal, but once again the tables were turned: they served us in America, but now we are serving them in Mexico.  Some of us also helped prepare the next meal.

While they ate we were invited to sit with them and ask them to share their stories.  

Most were willing, and for an hour we heard heart-breaking stories that followed a similar trajectory.  Extreme poverty and/or violence in their home country; harrowing tales of walking for days with little food and water; finding jobs and creating families and communities; and usually ending with a traffic violation that led to deportation.


We left after lunch with a new mission, a short walk along the border adjacent to a cemetery where migrants sleep.  It's free and safe from scorpions and bandits, though not too comfortable.

Father Peter (aka Santa) took us downtown on a mechanical marvel, otherwise known as a Mexican Public Bus.  





We arrived in downtown Nogales in the basement of a hotel. What awaited us was a donation by the Mexican government of massive amounts of food. About a minute after our arrival we were soon busy separating the food into piles for greater efficiency. 

We then took a mile long walk back to the food shelter.  We walked along the border on the Mexican side and saw barrio living on the left and affluence on the hill to the right.  15 years ago this town had no wall; the border was a line in the middle of International Boulevard.  With the wall, families and communities were separated overnight.  We also saw this mural, which is a montage of all the lives lost in and around the Nogales district.  

If you look up from the Mexican side, all you'd see is massive security cameras and a constant border patrol/national guard presence.  Later that evening, Asha commented that "it's almost like we are watching them like wild animals in a zoo.  What are we so scared of...?"

On the American side, we drove past border patrol (everywhere) to take a short walk along the wall.  

We then ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant (we won't tell you on which side of the border).  Let's just say it was cheap and delicious.


We arrived back in Tucson and after a quick rest, we convened for an hour and a half long group discussion.  It was filled with tears and pain and confusion.  


Tomorrow we will get to hear from the otherside: we are going visit Border Patrol and witness Operation Streamline, a new initiative to speed up the processing and deporting unlawful entries into the U.S.