Mercy sisters, others learn about migrant experience

The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – West-Midwest community sponsored an immersion experience for several sisters and lay people to visit the U.S.-Mexico border and learn about the situation facing migrants seeking asylum or entry into this country.

Thirteen people made the Nov. 12-16 trip. They were hosted at the Columban 

Mission Center in El Paso, Texas, by Columban Father Bob Mosher. 

The center offers exposure programs to visiting groups and facilitates contact with organizations and institutions related to U.S.-Mexico border issues, such as poverty, migration and human rights.

After an orientation program, the group traveled to the U.S. side of the border and heard from border patrol agents at the Border Patrol Museum, and met with a representative of Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services of El Paso who spoke about migrants’ experiences.

The group also visited several facilities that temporarily house migrants and went to Juarez, Mexico, where they visited a health clinic and met with Mercy Sister Betty Campbell, co-founder of Tabor House & Community for contemplative political action and solidarity with Latin America.

The trip also included an interfaith prayer vigil at Tornillo Detention Center, which temporarily houses undocumented immigrant minors in Tornillo, Texas.