The Promise of Mañana


Since we have begun our work as accompaniers, immigration officials have been letting one family unit across the border per day. Yesterday, a man and his toddler daughter crossed. Today, a woman, a mother of 2 grown sons who also traveled with her along with their small families, was let cross. They had hoped that they would be allowed to cross as one unit, but that was not the case. As we left her sons, their wives, and young children at the tent to return through the border gate, they said “quizas mañana.” Maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow they will get to cross. Tomorrow holds so much promise for these travelers. It is the word of hope. Migrants have made long journeys. For this family they traveled from Venezuela to Columbia, and then through Central America to the US border. 


For many there is no hope of mañana. A small group of nuns who work on the border facilitate cross plantings at the desert locations where the bodies of migrants are found. A sacred ceremony is held at each planting to honor the life and humanity of each deceased migrant. The passed migrants, who risked everything for a safer life, must have also held mañana as a beacon of hope as they traversed the treacherous desert and dodged Border Patrol agents.  

For our Venezuelan friends, their hope turned to despair when they learned that their cousin and his toddler daughter had been sent to Nogales once their asylum request had been processed in Tucson. So, once across the border they traveled to Tucson and then to Nogales where they must remain until their asylum hearing an event many months in the future. (This is thanks to the Remain in Mexico policy of the Trump Administration). This young man's wife is even in Florida with their infant twins.  A dark cloud hung over our young friends as they pondered what might happen to their cousin, and in turn to them. Our migrant support friends here at the border were somewhat surprised that they were taken to Nogales, since many asylum seekers from Douglas have been sent to Juarez. Juarez and Nogales are both dangerous places to be for young families, more dangerous than Agua Prieta. The father will need to find a job. Who will take care of his daughter? It is not a given that the abuela and her sons will be sent to Nogales too. They easily could be separated.  Securing legal representation for their asylum hearing is also more difficult from the Mexican side of the border. Even more disheartening is that fact that very few asylum-seekers are granted asylum. We have heard between 1-15%. And without verifiable evidence it is almost impossible. Do migrants know what the odds are? Is someone advising them? The hope of mañana faded into the background even for me. Our work to support them as they make their way from Agua Prieta across the border seems futile at times. We are just keeping them safe for a momentary respite before they navigate the next uncertain leg of their journey, a journey undoubtedly be fraught with improbable odds. Our friend/housemate, Rosemarie, a Mary Knoll nun working here too, said we just need to hold these travelers in love and give them moments of friendship and safety as they journey. Amen, Rosemarie. 

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