Some of you know I recently returned from 10 days on the US-Mexico border. I went because I wanted to have a first hand experience of the reality of immigrants and refugees. I speak Spanish, have worked with immigrants in Kentucky for 20+ years, and work in health care, so I have skills that could be put to good use. Earlier this year, when we were making arrangements for the trip, I knew it would be impossible for us to visit a detention center. But we made arrangements to volunteer at the Refugee Welcome Center, run by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Brownsville, TX. The Center welcomes refugees who have just been released from detention.
I am still processing what I saw and learned on the border, hence I have not told many of you about it yet. I am posting this today because the Trump administration plans to conduct raids on immigrants in several US cities tomorrow. I want to share just two stories, shared with me by young women who were given temporary legal status by ICE and came to the Refugee Welcome Center for food, clothing, and rest as they awaited a bus or plane to take them to meet their husbands, both of whom have full-time jobs in US industries heavily dependent on immigrant labor, that is agriculture and construction.All of their belongings are taken from them at the detention center. ALL of their belongings, even diapers for the toddlers and babies.
First, a woman from Honduras traveling with her 3 daughters, ages 8, 9, and 13 to reunite with her husband who works in construction. She confirmed what I read in a New York Times article in April, specifically that women are being skinned alive if they stand up to the gangs to prevent their children from being being kidnapped by the gangs and forced to “run” drugs. Yes, women are being skinned alive. WHAT HUMAN BEING WITH ANY MEANS TO GET TO SAFETY WOULD NOT GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE???
Second, a young mother from Guatemala, traveling with her 2 year old toddler to reunite with her husband who has been a sponsored farmworker for the last 5 years. She had a job in a larger town near her village which required her to walk a mile on a very rural road, then take a bus to the town where she worked 10-12 hours, 5 days each week. Earlier this year, she was raped on the walk to the bus. She had good reason to believe her attacker knew where she lived, so she was fearful for her own safety, as well as her son’s safety.
These are real human beings, people who have hopes and dreams just like the rest of us. Unfortunately, they live in countries which have been destabilized by US foreign policy and intervention. If you find that hard to believe, just search “how the US destabilized Central America” and you will no longer be able to deny that we have contributed to the migrant crisis.
I am the descendant of strong German and Irish immigrant farmers who settled in rural Kentucky in the 1840s. My parents and grandparents and ancestors built churches in our small towns, contributed to the life and well-being of their communities, and left a legacy of respect for the innate worth of every person. I stand on their shoulders. What motivated and inspired them? Very simply these words from the Gospel of Matthew:
‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
I am not including photos out of respect for the immigrants. This photo shows the only hand-pulled ferry still in operation in the US, between Los Ebanos, TX, and Diaz Ordaz, Mexico. The ferry was just leaving the Mexico side.
MATTHEW 25:31-40
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, “I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
So called Christians screaming, BUT THEY’RE ILLEGAL, are literally turning their backs on a directive from Christ Himself.
Even if these people are illegally in the country and even if they are violators of the law, the Universal Human Rights continue to apply to these people. And if I’m properly informed, the United States has recognized and signed the Universal Human Rights Declaration:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of person.
Article 4
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Article 11
1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Tori