Border Patrol Tour

The third day of our adventure began with an informative, and at times tense, presentation from Border Patrol which included a tour along the border.  As we drove along “la frontera” the agents explained the mission and goal of Border Patrol which was to protect and secure the border and other ports of entry from terrorism or national threat.  Two of the most impactful moments during the drive were stops directly across from a small Tijuana town, where we were a couple dozen feet from México and her people and at the same time so separated.  For many of us, this moment was very emotional and seemed to solidify the division that has grown between the two places.  There really was no way around it, looking across the fence into México we saw the “us” and the “them”, and although we still desperately felt like one community and one humanity, this fence had created distance. 

The next sight that defined our trip to the border had to be our stop at Friendship Park.  Dedicated on the 18th of August, 1971 by First Lady Pat Nixon, it was intended to be a meeting point for those who had immigrated to the United States.  Initially created to reunify families and show solidarity between the two countries, the site now has a steel, jail-like fence running straight through the middle of it.  From the U.S. side we could view part of the site through the squinty slits in the barrier which contained a defiled and graffittied monument on the México side.  Nothing says friendship like a tall, thick, steel fence through which families can barely communicate from 2-4 on Saturdays and Sundays.  Many of us in the group found great hypocrisy in this establishment and came away with strong, formed opinions about the way issues were being handled along the Border.

After our tour with Border Patrol, we went to a local panadería and bought soe sweet treats before being treated to an amazing presentation of Chicano park from Rigo Reyes, one of the park's board members.  The name and goal of Chicano park is to give an identity back to the community, a community of people who had immigrated from México and wished to recognize their mestizo heritage.  It was a fight to gain the park, requiring a community-wide stand against the local government to demand the promised area.  And touring the larger-than life murals that covered the park and surrounding areas gave us all an intimate glimpse into the rich history that shaped community and made that fight all worth it. 
 Following our memorable trip to Chicano Park and Border Patrol, we ended the day at , the International Rescue Committee and were treated to a presentation panel from four teenagers who had come to the United States as refugees.  We learned that the IRC works with current immigrants and refugees in the processes of resettlement, citizenship and naturalization, employment and career services, health, and educational transition in preparation for a new life here in the U.S.  The three young women and one young man came from Sudan, Somalia, Cambodia, and Thailand.  Some of them had fled their home country due to war and others had lived part of their lives in refugee camps in other countries before coming to the United States.  We got to hear from them what the transition was like: their preconceived notions, fears, excitements, etc. and then how their transition has been so far, the best and worst parts, and what their plans are for the future.  It was clear that these individuals were bright and capable and were very grateful for the help the IRC had extended to them.  To say the least, we were all inspired by their passion and left with a little more pep in our step! 

It was quite the day, where we got two quite different views on how the United States approaches immigration, and the pride of the community in the face of these different views.  Definitely an eventful day.