A “Courts and Ports” team of church members from First United Methodist Church of McKinney, an upscale city just north of Dallas, visited weary asylum seekers down on on the U.S. Mexico border in South Texas recently. My friend Lisa Poulsen Applegate if pictured 5th from the left. I’ll be sharing observations from some of the team members here in the days ahead.
Earlier this month, a friend of mine who’s a member of First United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas, saw up-close and personal what life is like for refugees seeking asylum on the Texas border.
Lisa Poulsen Applegate and other members of the McKinney church (and one volunteer from First UMC in Richardson, Texas) were part of a “Courts & Ports” team of church volunteers who met with immigrants fleeing poverty and violence in Central America.
Through an “immersion experience” program called Texas Impact — connected to The Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy — Lisa and the church members also engaged all sorts of people involved in service to the asylum seekers through legal and spiritual means.
These are Christians from a well-to-do Texas community who ventured out of their comfort zones to hear the stories of migrants and to learn what they can do to advance the cause of desperately needed immigration reform.
According to the Texas Impact Web site which you can see here, participants in a “Courts and Ports” get to the do the following five things:
1. Observe first-hand the operation of the U.S. immigration system and current policies related to border security
2. Interact directly with individuals who are seeking asylum in the U.S.
3. Participate in theological and policy discussions with grassroots and faith leaders
4. Practice storytelling and communication with skilled trainers so they can share their experiences effectively with their home communities
5. Become part of a facilitated online “Courts and Ports Alumni” community that will work to change the nature of the immigration debate in local congregations and neighborhoods.
Upon her return home, Lisa said:
“Today I feel humbled. Exhausted. Raw. Coming home to my very comfortable house has left me feeling decidedly … uncomfortable.
I will have more to share about this trip when I have had more time to process what we witnessed there and I look forward to answering any questions that I can.
Pictured is Lisa Poulsen Applegate: she and other members of her Untied Methodist Church ventured out of their comfort zones to hear the stories of the poor and powerless refugees seeking asylum in the U.S.
“For now, I will say that I don’t pretend to know what the solution to this situation is, but it was very clear to me that the processes currently in place are unsustainable.”
What follows are a few observations shared on Facebook by another team member — and I’ll be posting more in the days ahead:
1. We met a father who had fled his home because those who could not pay rent were executed. As the rent continued to rise, he knew he must flee with his family to save their lives.
2. The families we met gathered in tents at the end of the bridge on the Mexican side are trying to enter legally. One woman had been living in the small tent compound for 15 days trying to legally apply for asylum in the United States.
The US Government is the one breaking the law by not allowing these families access to the Port of Entry.
3. As the father of a 3-year-old boy myself, I couldn’t help but look into the eyes of a 3-year-old boy we met who had fled with his family and wonder what choice I would make if the lives of my family were in danger.
And my heart was filled with both joy and sadness as our eyes met and he gave me a high five with a giant smile because of the small gift of rice and beans my kids might complain about.
4. We have work to do. We need to stop spewing cable news/political talking points, start learning about the actual stories/issues and demand that our leaders find a solution.
Now here is your thought for the day, dear reader, from yours truly:
If you were a father whose entire family faced sure death because you couldn’t pay rent, would you stay in the house or head north to the U.S. border for an opportunity to obtain asylum and a shot at supporting yourself, your wife and kids?
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