Border Perspectives

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There has been a great deal in the news these days about migrants, asylum seekers and caravans of people from Central America who have made their way to the Mexico-US border. I am writing to share with you some personal experience and observations.

Two weeks ago, RMS Vice President, Earline Bohling and I traveled to El Paso to see first-hand some of the realities related to the current migration situation. We were joined by Pastor Matt Barnhouse (Director for Evangelical Mission) as Pastor Rose Mary Sanchez-Guzman (Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey) provided an opportunity for us to visit places where asylum seekers were being sheltered. 

We were able to personally thank volunteers at Cristo Rey who have given of their time and energy to host refugees. We also joined the Region Two first call deacons and pastors in their orientation to the Border at a meeting with Ruben Garcia from Annunciation House.


Here are some of our reflections and learnings:

n  This is not new. Groups coming to the border in caravans and in waves dates back decades. The current wave has been occurring for about a year. In El Paso alone, around 2,000 asylum seekers arrived in one week’s time. The greatest need is temporary shelter and logistic support for these women, men and children before they travel to stay with family members across the country while awaiting their hearing.

A parking lot of a local hotel serves as a makeshift cafeteria to feed asylum-seekers.

n  Violence creates migration. Migration at this time, as is the case most often, is driven by conditions in the migrant’s home country. Currently conditions in the three Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are dire enough to force many people to flee for their safety. The most common source of danger in these countries includes gangs and local officials who threaten or carry out acts of violence upon neighbors who do not agree to pay a protection fee or who in some way threaten their hold on local power. Illegal drug consumption in the US helps fuel the crisis by serving as a source of revenue for drug producers in Central America, who are often at the heart of the local violence.

n  Our call to welcome the stranger offers hands-on opportunities. We currently have three ELCA congregations actively hosting asylum seekers including Cristo Rey in El Paso, as well as Peace and Trinity in Las Cruces. Other congregations are supporting the local hosting efforts which are being carried out at churches, community centers and even several hotels. Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains has been asked to consider hosting asylum seekers in Albuquerque and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services has been on the ground in New Mexico and El Paso to assess the situation.
         A volunteer shares how information is gathered and recorded so that new 

         arrivals can be reunited with family in the US.





n  Mobilizing matters. We met with people from around the United States have come to the Border to provide assistance in caring for asylum seekers. We met Catholic sisters from Illinois as well as lay people from as far as Buffalo NY and Seattle WA who feel called to show up and share their gifts.



n  You can help. Below are some of the ways you can make a difference, even if you don’t live along the border.
o   Give to our RMS Border Emergency Fund to continue supporting our congregations that are hosting and supporting asylum seekers.
o   Learn more and educate others about the realities related to this current migration crisis. Check out resources through our ELCA AMMPARO strategy and read an update from AMMPARO director Mary Campbell.
o   Engage in a Border immersion or offer your time/talents to engage directly at the Border.
o   Support those called to serve at the Border: This fall Border Servant Corps made the decision to discontinue the volunteer aspect of its programming in order to give fuller attention to its immersion work as well as to the ministry of hosting refugees and asylum seekers. The timing of this decision left a number of volunteers who had planned to spend a year in service at the Border without financial or logistical support. Peace Lutheran Church in El Paso has taken the lead in seeking financial support for three of these volunteers whose work is incredibly important in light of the current needs at the Border. We encourage you to read the attached letter and to give generously in support of these young adult volunteers.

I am grateful for the leaders and ministries currently working on the Border on behalf of our Church and invite your engagement as Christ's Church, Better Together.

In faith,

Bishop Jim

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