Kino Border Immersion Reflection

Surveillance cameras, an ominous wall enveloped in barbed wire, and a massive blimp watching from above. One would think the scene was straight from a dystopian novel. Instead, it is simply the border between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora in Mexico; it’s one city completely cut in two. Such was the surprising first look at the area we, as a Kino Immersion group, had and it’s the very same area thousands of migrants use every day. 

I, along with four other Belen students, had the privilege of participating in this year’s immersion trip that was led by Christian Service Coordinator Mrs. González and Theology Teacher Killian Lansingh.

The organization that hosted us, Kino Border Initiative, is a group that helps migrants by offering food, shelter, clothing, and even legal support if necessary. We are one of many schools they invite each year, teaching us about the complexities of migration through presentations, conversations, experiences, and even migrant accompaniment. This 5-day immersion experience is done to show students and even adults what is truly happening on the border, hoping they come home and share that with others. For me, the experience had many life-changing takeaways. One that really stood out from the rest: people really aren't as divided as it may seem.

The first and most important dogma of the Kino Initiative is to preserve the human dignity of migrants. Kino, along with many migrants, argue for humane immigration reform. I learned many lessons, especially when in the presence of migrants. We helped serve food to migrants in Kino’s ‘comedor’ (dining room) and then spoke to them as they ate. Over some delicious refried beans and handmade tortillas, I became acquainted with many teen migrants, just as interested to learn about me as I was about them. One story that stood out to me was that of a young man, only a few years older than I, who was forced to leave home after being extorted by his local cartel. He was studying to be a doctor, and only wanted to help people. He is seeking asylum in the U.S. with the hope that he can continue his studies and make meaningful contributions to the medical field in America. His story was not uncommon and it’s his story that truly impacted my understanding of many migrants, forced to leave everything in the hopes of finding a better life for themselves and their families. They hope things can change and the immigration problem can be dealt with. This one conversation alone made the whole trip worth it.

Another perspective we saw was that of border patrol agents, people who spend every day out on the border protecting American boundaries. Often ostracized by the media, these officers are often pitted as ‘enemies of migrants,’ but this is inaccurate. These men and women, obliged to apply border laws, told us they believed immigration reform is necessary and felt that current migration policies and treatments leave much to be desired. Things are difficult, as the cartel is an omnipresent force in all of it, and there is no real solution to things currently. But seeing both migrants and officers agree something must be done to change migration positively was already a very strong message.

In all, I cannot thank the people of Kino enough for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. While the media and people everywhere seem to think they know how things are, in reality, they often have no clue. There are no stats, no enemies and friends, only people. The day we, as a nation, realize this and treat everyone with dignity, is the day we come closer to solving the complex issue. 

The Kino Border Initiative is a binational, inclusive Roman Catholic organization inspired by the spirituality of the Jesuits and Missionaries of the Eucharist; locally rooted in Ambos Nogales on the Mexico- US border and with a regional approach organization throughout Central America and North America. Belen Jesuit students interested in participating in this immersion experience should contact Christian Service Coordinator Mrs. González at tgonzalez@belenjesuit.org. Click here to see the photo album from the 2022 Kino Border Initiative experience.