I spent 7 days in Tijuana, Mexico helping asylum-seekers at the border. I volunteered with a group called Al Otro Lado. They offer free legal, and other services, to migrants hoping to be granted asylum in the U.S. I'll be writing my thoughts and first-hand accounts here.
Hello friends. This is the end of my second day working in Mexico, but I feel like it’s been a week of a continuous, vertical learning curve. As an educated, English-speaking adult, I am in constant confusion about the instructions that asylum-seekers are given. Instructions feel largely random, made-up, improvised, and often conflicting with previously given instructions as well as with other organizations. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for foreigners to navigate through this. To qualify for asylum, a person must not only say they have a fear for their life, but they must have very strong proof and documentation of this fear and threat. They must also show that their country’s local and national authorities are incapable or unwilling to protect their own citizen. I wish I could tell you some of this “documentation” I helped process today. Suffice to say, it included graphic content that showed what the worst of humanity is capable of. And even with an asylum case that is classified as “strong,” statistically, that person will likely be denied. And there is nothing more we can do for them, but watch them and their children get sent back to their country and to their abuser. However, because these people’s abuser/threat is actively searching for them to do them harm, almost all information must be kept anonymous, which is why I won’t be sharing too many details about my location and what I am doing here. My day began by reaching out to asylum “hopefuls” about where they can find legal resources and what they can expect from this long, complicated process. Then, I cleaned and very dirty bathroom. And I finished by assisting with documentation. However, I also got to play guitar with a child and their parent, AND eat street tacos for all 3 meals. Thank God for the positive! And there are many other hopeful moments that help us get through the bleak. It’s quite emotionally exhausting to see the very worst of humanity AND the very best of humanity within a short time frame. Please keep an empathetic and compassionate heart. Truthfully, that may actually change a person’s entire world for the better.
My Pre-Tijuana post
Tijuana First Hand Facts of Red Tent
My Pre-Tijuana post
Tijuana First Hand Facts of Red Tent
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