We started the day with a 7-mile trek to the border through a valley in the Coronado National Forest. Our guide Brian from Tucson Samaritans lead us through the rocky/sandy valley.
Along the trek we encountered worn out supplies and used up food and water that the Samaritans had left behind for migrants. During our journey we took breaks to reflect on what traveling across the border for a migrant entails and the hardships they might experience.
Eventually we made it to the border where we saw more food and water drops. Along the trek we stopped briefly to talk and reflect on the things we would see or what our guide Brian would inform us. On our way back to the vans we stopped to have an emotional reflection on what we just experienced.
After that we drove with our guide Leah to the town of Nogales. When we got to Nogales we had the opportunity to meet Manuel, a former undocumented immigrant that like many other came to the US looking for the American Dream. After hearing him talk about how far he’d come in his life we were all in awe of his dedication and attitude.
Then he lead us to a spot along the border wall dividing Nogales, U.S.A. and Nogales, Mexico. Here, Manuel showed us, through the wall, a cross that was painted on the side of a building on the Mexican side. This cross was to mark the death of Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez who was shot and killed by possibly more than one border patrol agent but only one is being charged.
Manuel then told us the circumstances regarding Elena Rodriguez’s death and the importance since this is the first time a US border patrol agent will be charged (many cases similar to Elena Rodriguez have happened but with no reprecussions).
After that we did this activity with Manuel to show us the Canasta Basica (Basic Basket). We were shown the prices of necessary food and commodities and how difficult it is to get by with the minimum wage salary in Mexico. It really put things into perspective, a person in Mexico needs to work 3 days to earn what it takes an hour the equivalent minimum wage in Oregon can (11.25 USD = 202 MXN).
In preparation for our visitation to the Detention center Florence, we visited Karolina with Mariposas Sin Fronteras. She told us her personal story, the abuse that she went through, how she overcame the adversities in her life, and how she now works to help others that have had similar experiences.
After telling us about her story she told us her future goals and aspirations in her life, her passion inspires us to work for those without a voice. She then proceded to give us guidelines, appropriate behaviors, questions to ask and dress for the detention center which she visits frequently on behalf of Mariposas Sin Fronteras to help as much as she can.
My favorite part of the day was meeting Manuel. With the help of Borderlinks he was able to help Manuel rebuild his life and go from an undocumented immigrant to a visa holder who has a fullfulling life working with borderlinks and living in Mexico.
His attitude was very admirable to say the least and his willingness to participate and teach people as much as he can from his personal expirience, and facts about the complex topic that is immigration, Mexican-US relations and border regulations.
Manuel left us with a quote that said “just because there are a few bad apples doesn’t mean the rest are like that”. He said we are all humans and should treat each other as such and not let bias impair our ability to treat others respectfully.- Paula Ortiz Cazaubon
Personally the hardest part of the day was when Manuel was telling the group about Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez. We learned that he was shot 14 or 10 times, Mexico coroners say 14 and the United States disputes that claiming 10 times. Either way it seems like way too many times to shoot a 16 year old that was throwing rocks at the border wall.
Additionally, there’s evidence that the bullets came from several different angles. There are several steps that could have been taken to deescalate the situation before the border patrol agents fired. The border wall in Nogales isn’t the average residential wall, it’s at least 20 feet of steel with small slots in the wall.
I’m not entirely sure what constitues an act of war but firing across a border at another country’s citizen seems like it might. It’s also fairly upsetting that this case has been put off since 2012, not to mention all the reported similar cases that never see court.
At the end of all this no amount of justice will bring back Jose Antonio Elena Rodgriuez to his family and friends, nobody will know what he could have done in his life, and that’s awful.
-Dylan Williams