Trip to Texas-Mexico Border
In the summer of 2022, I volunteered at the Texas-Mexico border throughout a ten-day trip with members from my local church. While we were there, we served in a few different settings including a refugee center, a local church, and a bus station. I spent most of my time serving at the bus station. In this setting, there was a great need for individuals who can speak Spanish, and I was one of the few Spanish speakers on our trip.
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Going into this experience, I was a bit nervous about using my Spanish skills outside of a classroom setting. I had a few previous experiences of talking with native speakers outside of the classroom, but I knew that being in this scenario, I could come across Spanish speakers of all different countries and dialects. Although I was nervous, I was also very excited to put my Spanish skills to use.
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As I expected, it was challenging to understand some of the people that I talked to based on dialect and the rate of their speech. For example, many people from Cuba talk very rapidly, which made it more difficult for me to understand everything they said. However, after explaining to them that my Spanish skills were still developing, they slowed down, and I was able to understand them much better. They were all very patient with me and appreciative that I could speak Spanish. Throughout my time there, I felt my listening and speaking abilities progressed each day. Being immersed in the language for the majority of the day gave me a lot of repetition and helped me gain confidence in my speaking and listening abilities.
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The bus station we served at was in Brownsville, Texas, and it is one of the largest border crossing cities in the U.S. My role as a volunteer was to welcome immigrants after they were processed at the border crossing and came to the bus station. We worked with an organization called Team Brownsville, which offers resources such as water, blankets, snacks, and miscellaneous pieces of clothing to immigrants. Through this volunteer experience, I learned more about the immigration process and my preconceived misconceptions, and I gained a greater sense of compassion for individuals who go through the immigration process.
As the immigrants came into the bus station, I went up to them, introduced myself, and welcomed them to our country. I asked if I could sit down next to them and chat. I asked them about their journey, and to my surprise, many of them opened up and shared many details of their journey. Many of them explained why they came here, the many challenges they faced, and their end goals. It was in these conversations that I was introduced to the harsh realities that many immigrants face, specifically when seeking asylum.
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I was surprised to learn about the variety of reasons why people immigrate. Prior to this, I assumed most people immigrated here with their families because they were seeking better opportunities. I assumed many of them wanted to make more money or find a better job. Although this is sometimes the case, it is not always the reason for immigrating. There are several other reasons people immigrate to the U.S. A common reason the people at the bus station shared was temporarily living in the U.S. to make more money to support their families. Some people shared that the jobs in their countries did not pay enough for them to sustainably support their families. Rather than bringing their whole family to move to the U.S., they come alone to work here temporarily. This meant leaving their families behind, sometimes without knowing when or if they would see them again. The journey for many immigrants to make it to the U.S. is long, costly, and dangerous. There is often a serious risk of death or never seeing their families again.
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A reason for immigrating that I was surprised to learn about was fleeing danger or persecution . This was the most difficult reason to hear about at the bus station, and unfortunately, it was common. As I listened to stories about some dreadful conditions that these individuals were living in, the stories left me in awe of these people’s courage. One man shared that he was a pastor fleeing his country because law enforcement had begun persecuting him for his faith. Another person shared that violence rates were so high in their country that they felt their only option was to flee. A less common reason was to create a better life for themselves. This was often the reason for single people hoping the opportunities our country offers could help them create a life they dreamed of. A misconception that I had coming into these encounters was that this is the primary reason for immigrating. After talking with many immigrants over the course of six days, this was by far the least common reason.
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A difficult concept I learned about was the ability, or lack thereof to seek asylum based on country of citizenship. We were able to meet with immigration lawyers and other individuals working near the border, and they shared that there are many people from other countries facing these same dangerous conditions who are unable to immigrate or seek refugee status due to our country’s policies. This is a fluid situation, as the countries we allow to seek asylum change over time. It was difficult to learn this because some the stories people shared were horrific, and it was heart breaking to know that they are many citizens of other countries who do not have the opportunity to seek asylum here in our country. This grew my empathy for citizens of any country that is not allowed to seek refugee status here in the U.S.
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The most surprising part of the stories shared was the difficulty and danger throughout their journeys to the U.S. This journey is different for everyone, and much more dangerous for people from certain countries. Many people had to face dangerous gangs, which are common among the immigration route to the U.S. With hopes for a safer journey, many people hire a “coyote” to guide them on their journey. This can often be a toss-up, because there are many imposters who will promise to be a coyote but end up taking their money and leaving them. Some areas are so corrupt that police officers are even in on the trafficking. In certain areas, when immigrants turn to law enforcement, they are handed over to gangs. Those who immigrate on foot from countries in South America must travel through an area known as the Darien Gap. This is an extremely dangerous jungle, full of poisonous animals, gangs, and a long, strenuous mountain crossing. Many of the traumatic stories I listened to took place at the Darien Gap.
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What stood out to me was that in order for someone to go through a journey that difficult and dangerous, the situations that they are coming from must be even more difficult. I cannot imagine being in these people’s shoes. I have not had to endure journeys such as this for the resources I have and, quite frankly, take for granted. These people have had to pass through jungles, deal with gangs and violence to arrive here and get a job that pays minimum wage. Meanwhile, just shortly before going on this trip, I was offered a job without even having to apply. This realization shook me. It led me to reflect on the privilege that I have. It led me to question why in the world I deserve to be handed a job while others risk their lives for a similar opportunity. I questioned how that can be fair.
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Injustices throughout history have contributed to the inequalities and challenges that many immigrants today face. Although we cannot change history, we can stop these oppressive systems from continuing. I think a good first step in the right direction is being curious about what can be done. Moving forward, I ask myself, “what now?” What can be done to bridge the gap between those of us who are born into privilege and those who must labor for the bare minimum? What does that look like in terms of immigration? On a more local level, what does that look like in my community? In my future profession, what does that look like as a speech therapist?
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These are all questions that I am continually exploring and desiring to learn more about. On the simplest level, I think it looks like loving my neighbor, not making assumptions about them based on preconceived notions. I recognize that not all immigrants will go through this kind of journey. I cannot assume I know someone’s story based on limited information, such as how they look or talk or where they are from. On a greater level, it looks like treating others with equity, going above and beyond to provide them with extra resources that they need. It looks like volunteering with organizations that support marginalized groups in society. It looks like seeking out employees of diverse backgrounds to make clients feel more comfortable in sessions.
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As a future clinician, I will always strive to treat my clients with equity. I will research the ethnicity and culture of each client if I am not familiar with it. If it makes the client feel more comfortable, I will consult with another professional of the same background. This is the least that I can do to treat my clients equitably. In my everyday encounters with others, I will strive to do the same. I will be aware of prejudices that I create in my mind and actively work to dismantle these. I will continue to educate myself on how to support these people within my reach and fight for equity throughout my community.
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This experience learning about the process of immigration opened my eyes to the reality of privilege and the disparities that exist in the world. I interacted with a small portion of people who face these difficulties daily. I know that what I encountered on this trip was just a small glimpse into the great need there is for equity in our world. This trip left an impact on me that will stay with me throughout my life. I am grateful for the knowledge and compassion I have gained as a result of taking this service trip and how it will impact my future.