| |
NNPCW Member Sarah-Kate Magee reflects on the BorderLinks delegation
January 9-14, 2009, NNPCW hosted a delegation to the U.S.-Mexico border with BorderLinks, a bi-national, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action around the global political economics.
BorderLinks was co-founded by the moderator of the 216th General Assembly, Rick Ufford-Chase, in 1987 in an effort to educate those who seek justice in the borderlands between Mexico and the United States. BorderLinks programs focus on cross-border relationship-building opportunities, issues of immigration, community formation and development, and social justice.
The NNPCW delegation with BorderLinks specifically focused on women’s issues and theological reflection.
I’m sure you all have seen and heard about the impact of immigration on our city, our state and our country. You’ve read the articles about legislation that wants to finish building the wall You have seen the men and women migrants building our homes, cleaning our hotel rooms and working in our restaurants. The media portrays the image that migrants are here to steal our jobs and take advantage of our social services We only hear about the migrants that have been deported multiple times or kill someone as a result of drunk driving.
From my experiences in the borderlands of Arizona and Mexico with the National Network of Presbyterian College Women and the Borderlinks Bi-national Organization, I have seen that these ideas portrayed by the media are not the only reality There is a human side to migration, one that many of us are unfamiliar with because of our distance from the border. On my trip, I was able to see that human side of migration I heard the story of Lillian who tried to cross the desert right around Christmas time this year, despite being eight and a half months pregnant She went into labor early and delivered the baby in the freezing cold rain of the Arizona desert When border patrol finally found her, she and the baby were split up Lillian was denied hospital care and spent several days in a deportation facility while her baby was without her in the hospital Since there was no breast milk for the baby, nurses fed him formula Lillian and her baby, who she named Jesus, were reunited on Christmas Day The story, however, does not have a happy ending The baby and mother were sent back to Mexico, where Jesus will die because Lillian does not have breast milk for him or money for formula
Lillian and Jesus’ story is one of many There are so many heart-wrenching stories of migrants and happy endings are uncommon Did you know that vigilantes or “minute men” vandalize or poison water that Christian organizations leave out in the desert for migrants? Did you know that the Border Patrol receives minimal training in constitutional law but ongoing gun training? Did you know that the human rights of migrants are not guaranteed and are often violated?
One thing is clear to me People migrate out of necessity, not out of desire They risk their life in order for a chance at a better life We build a wall to keep them out but “reward” them by employing them in jobs we don’t want to do and jobs that pay them much better than their home country No matter what side of the aisle you are on politically, you cannot tolerate violations of other human beings rights Even though they are breaking the law, you cannot stand by and allow other human beings to be denied clean water and fair treatment The best solution to this immigration dilemma is debatable and unclear, but the need for all of God’s children to be given basic human rights, no matter the status of their immigration papers, is obvious What can you do to help end the violations of human rights in the Borderlands?
The Web site of the organization I travelled with that has many resources about what they do in Tucson and Nogales along with information about immigration.
Web site that has information about immigration happenings in Congress.
The Web site of an organization dedicated to supporting humanitarian causes.
- Just Coffee/Café Justo: By returning more money to farmers, Café Justo changes the lives of Mexican families. But your Café Justo purchase isn’t charity. At $8.00 per pound, their beans are competitively prices with other premium brands on the market Because Café Justo roasts its own coffee, they can support farmers without handouts. Fair Trade Coffee returns $1.31 per pound to the growing cooperatives. Café Justo returns $1.33 In addition, cooperative members receive family health insurance and benefits along with a retirement plan Café Justo returns more money to the cooperative organizations so that they can grow their operations and make community improvements Café Justo roasts their coffee a few days before they send it to you so it’s fresh and delicious I don’t even like coffee and I thought it was so tasty! Visit their Web site or call (866) 545-6406.
- Donate your money or time Borderlinks and No More Deaths are both nonprofit organizations Especially in these economic times, money is tight. Both organizations look for volunteers to help or to be educatedBorderlinks has many different types of delegations all year round; delegations vary in length, focus and target audience. See the Web site of either organization listed above
Sarah-Kate is in her first year at the College of Charleston, S.C. |
|
