Recently a few of our Chaminade brothers went on a trip to El Paso. These people were Chernet Kelrick, Kai Colebrook, Bobby Wittman, and me, Grant Mueller. On this trip we were able to see what is really happening down at the United States-Mexico border. The border can mean very different things for different people. For some, it might mean safety, or a new home. When we look at this border that separates the US and Mexico, we see how it impacts the community. El Paso is a city with really two different sides. One on America’s side and the other on Mexico’s. Many people will cross the border legally to go to work or see family during the week, so it is very interconnected.
Bobby Wittman, ’25, shared some thoughts on his experience in El Paso.
“I went to El Paso to experience firsthand what immigrant go through and find out how I can make a difference,” he said.
We really did find out what immigrants go through. We met with an immigrant awaiting his trial, meaning that he crossed the border illegally, was arrested, and now is awaiting to see if he can stay. He told us his story. He was from Honduras and came to the US because he was having brain aneurysms and was at risk of dying. People come for all different reasons, but this was just one.
Bobby said, “The most memorable part of the pilgrimage for me was the Mt. Cristo Rey hike and mass.”
This was truly an incredible scene, as you could see both countries with a massive cross in the middle.
When asked how people at Chaminade can get involved, Bobby said, “We can research the legal forms of immigration and get involved in the refugee services such as START, St. Louis Teens Aid Refugees Today, or HumanKindSTL.”
What I took away from the trip was a sense of perspective. You will see all different viewpoints from the news from both political parties, but in order to truly formulate your own opinion, you need to see what is happening. By going on this trip, I learned about how real and serious this issue is, as we have a legal system that is flawed due to the threat of crime, when there are also so many people who are good that want to come into our country.
