This week’s participants are a group from First United Methodist Church in Austin, led by Rev. Cathy Stone. The other members are Lisa Hildebrand, Gerry Carroll, Karen Smith, and Robbie and Tom Ausley.
Our guests went to federal criminal court in Brownsville, Catholic Charities, the Brownsville/Matamoros Gateway International Bridge, and La Posada.
This is the second week in a row where Courts and Ports participants have gone to court Monday morning to view the 1325 illegal border crossing proceedings and were not allowed into the courtroom until the more serious offenses were being heard. Texas Impact is collecting information on what happened to share with our national partners and address this issue with congress.
The Courts and Ports group from FUMC Austin outside the new Catholic Charities location with Sister Norma, and Mike and Cindy Johnson.
Here are some of the things our group had to say about their experience:
Robbie Ausley says “The Rosa Parks quote “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right,” which adorned the wall of a refugee community, La Posada, became my prayer as our group of six from First United Methodist Church participated in the “Courts & Ports” faithful witness on the Texas-Mexico Border last week. For more than 25 years, La Posada in San Benito has welcomed the stranger and made a difference by providing a safe, welcoming home to immigrants and asylum seekers which was a blessing to witness last week.
Extreme emotions of being appalled and overwhelmed at times while also being inspired and hopeful at other times defined my 2-day immersion experience at the Texas-Mexico border. Feeling overwhelmed as I witnessed hundreds of our vulnerable migrant brothers and sisters seeking refuge as they got off the busses in McAllen moved to moments of inspiration as I witnessed the passion of the volunteers, including our group, at the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley Humanitarian Respite Center working to create hope and restore dignity by providing food, clothing and guidance to these migrants who are the most vulnerable among us.
As a Methodist, I also was inspired when visiting the Good Neighbor Settlement House in Brownsville which gets support from many in the Methodist community. Given the recent influx of migrants, they not only provide for the homeless, but have also expanded their services to provide the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, showers and hot meals to migrants who are seeking asylum.
Our group was also scheduled to observe the hearing of migrants seeking asylum in the federal US District Court in Brownsville; however, for reasons unknown, we were denied entry into the courtroom during the hearing on Monday morning, June 17th which was both disconcerting and disappointing.
As a person of faith, I hope my witnessing the current situation on the border will better equip me to work to change the nature of the immigration debate in my community and to be a more informed advocate for just immigration policies.
Karen Smith says “I had the privilege of attending the Texas Impact Courts and Ports program last week, with my home church, First Methodist Austin.
I am not a novice to the injustice and human suffering at the border; I have been serving the border community for a week in makeshift clinics, as a doctor, every year since 2013. However, this trip was different.
Seeing the legal side—asylum seekers in chains, alongside criminals— really brought home for me the cruel and nonsensical nature of our current policies. America IS great, but people love their own nations and families. It takes a tremendous force to uproot someone and send them thousands of miles from home, hoping for better.
What helps me the most is seeing the beauty in the midst of despair—a smile, a joke, a hug. People in truly terrible conditions responding to the gift of a mango or a bowl of soup. The amazing Catholic sisters, shelter workers and volunteers who embrace the dispossessed. And lastly, the sense that even if I only gave out one shirt or handed out one dinner, I pitched in and helped during this crisis.
And, of course, above all, the overwhelming sense of the grace of God. There are so many reasons that I am truly grateful for my Courts and Ports experience.
News
The President announced via Twitter the night of the 16th that ICE agents will start making raids on ‘millions of illegal aliens’ next week. He then announced that those raids would start on Sunday the 23rd. He has since stated that these raids will be delayed to give members of Congress time to work out the “Asylum and Loophole problems” at the border. While these announcements gave advance warning of these raids, we can expect increased trouble for our migrant brothers and sisters here in Texas.
Catholic Charities moved to a new facility! Back in December, the city of McAllen voted to remove Catholic Charities from their location on Hackberry Street in the donated building of an old nursing home. They have now officially moved into their new location on 15th Street. The building is more spacious than previous locations and has air conditioning, both of which are a major blessing!
According to Angry Tias and Abuelas, here is a list of the most urgently needed donation items:
“Food: Nido powdered milk (red lid), cold cereal (sweetened, any kind), bread, cooked sliced ham and cheese for sandwiches, bottled water, snacks in small packages or bags to put in travelers’ bags (cracker sandwiches–peanut butter or cheese–animal crackers, granola bars, mini pretzels, chips).
Other: Toilet paper, trash bags, 12-oz Styrofoam bowls, shoelaces, ponytail holders, underwear for men, women and children—nothing larger than medium. New and gently-used clothing is always needed, again, small and medium.
The Center also desperately needs an industrial/restaurant-sized stove. The current one is what most of us have in our homes, and they are cooking for hundreds.
Donations can be sent to the Humanitarian Respite Center, 111 S. 15th St., McAllen, TX 78501. Because of the size of the crowds, donation deliveries should take place between 5-8:00 p.m. any day of the week. Drive into the alley behind the center and look for an open door.”
Please view Mike Seifert’s new blog post about Father’s Day in the Rio Grande Valley here: https://alongsideaborder.com/2019/06/16/fathers-day/