Immigration, Borders and the Way We See and Experience Them

Is the reality of people crossing our southern border with Mexico the snapshots you see on the news at least two or three times a week? Isn’t crossing borders a story that is part of the history of the United States? Why is the immigration story a rich part of our history, and yet today it is framed as a serious problem? Or was it always named as a problem and we just did not recognize it in the same way we do today, in 2024, when the rhetoric is “criminals” and “close the border?”

These are questions I ponder often as I experience the border and the wall in the Nogales sector of Arizona. Yes, there is the “political immigration story” that fills the news. And there is another story. The Latin American/Caribbean Committee, the El Paso Community, the Justice Fellows and Loretto Link’s Fronteras Unidas working group represent Loretto in the immigration struggle. 

One amazing example is Loretto Link member Dora Rodriguez who lives in Tucson and is a dedicated warrior for immigrants in the region. She generously shares her story, one of the realities of the dangerous trip to come to the United States and how she has turned her experience into a lifelong mission and beacon of hope for others. She and her daughter started the nonprofit Salvavision. Its mission is to provide aid and support to asylum seekers, migrants and returnees. 

Amid all the turmoil at the border, Dora goes the extra mile. I happened to be with Dora one day when she had just returned from the border. It was so heartbreaking she wondered how she could keep Salvavision going. The town of Sasabe, Mexico, where she started a shelter and empowered the local women to run it, was overtaken by a new cartel. Everyone had to leave. Of course, Dora does not quit and has helped all these families and more to resettle in Tucson, seek asylum and start new lives. This summer she put together a summer day camp experience for the children of these families. A time for fun and a time to heal through art therapy.

Dora speaks out every chance she gets. Watch her interview with Jose Diaz-Balard below to see her in action.

Immigration policy is complicated. Being present, reaching out and providing hope is not. We are blessed to have Dora as a member of Loretto Link and as someone who lives the Gospel message.