A random mix

Today I am just going to list a few moments, instances that have occurred over the past few days that I don't want to forget. There isn't really a theme (at least there isn't one that I have yet to notice). If my writing in the post develops to reveal a theme, it's because I've figured it out while writing.

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Just so you know, I decided from the beginning to make this blog a "stream of conciousness." If I end up figuring something out while I am writing, I want(ed) you to be figuring it out with me, too. For me, this blog isn't about projecting a certain image of the frontera, El Paso, Annunciation House, or myself. My goal is to help anyone who is reading to "get into my head" so you can see what I've seen. I hope my mind isn't too confusing of a place. If it is, my apologies. There happens to be a lot new non-material acquisitions (ie experiences, memories) stored up there that are in need of sorting and classification.


When I was on PM shift Wednesday I was running around constantly. At one point I thought I was going to have an intake. I talked to a youngish looking guy and asked him to tell me about his situation. It seemed legitimate, so I asked him for some information so that I could check our records to verify he hadn't stayed at A. House before, and that if he had, that there hadn't been any problems. We ended up having no record of him before, so I went back outside to do a final few questions before doing his intake as a guest. I asked him if he already had work, and he responded that he would be working beginning in the middle of the night into the morning in the fields--He had pulled some strings, and with some hard work had secured the job. As soon as I heard that, I knew what I had to tell him. No one can leave the house between 10pm and 6am due to issues of security. He would either need to find other work, or other shelter. A look of panic came across his face. I repeated that he was welcome to stay, but that he would need to find other work arrangements. He said that he had already pulled in favors, and that he couldn't just quit. He asked me if he could just come in and have a plate to eat. I said yes. I knew that giving food at the door wasn't typical, but I also knew that I was the one on shift, I was the one in charge, and if I wanted to take on some more responsibility, that was my choice. I also rationalized it this way: If I hadn't asked whether he already had work or not, I wouldn't have known about his plan to work at night (I haven't always asked that question at the door) until we were already inside; at that point I would have already offered him the hospitality of food and water.

We usually don't give out food at the door because we aren't a food bank. We don't want it getting around that people can just come for a meal...because they can't. I suppose I was just really moved by his situation. I had asked him initially whether he had friends or family in the area (to verify that he had no other options of places to stay), and he responded that he didn't have any connections to speak of in the US except for the person who helped him get the job (the friend was not in a situation to be able to help further...he's also a migrant worker). I asked him if he had any family here, and he responded that he didn't, but that his esposa and hijo were back in Mexico. I had asked him for his birthdate: he is 19. That is one year younger than me. That was when I decided to acquiesce. How could I not just give him a simple plate of food!? I made him promise not to tell anyone else he had eaten at A. House, though. He smiled and said that he wouldn't.

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We had an "all-staff" meeting yesterday in which we reflected a bit on our time at Annunciation House. A lot of volunteers are leaving in this next week, and only one new volunteer has arrived. A total of 8 volunteers are leaving. We talked about how meaningful the experience has been for all of us, and how surprising it is that more people wouldn't be interested in doing it as well. We talkeda about how to recruit new volunteers, because without volunteers, the houses cannot continue to exist. In the words of our director Ruben, "you give life to the houses."

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Following the All-Staff meeting, we and many of our guests went to a protest organized by the Border Network for Human Rights. We walked around the federal building in downtown El Paso. People shouted "si se pudo!"(basically meaning, yes we did!). Although I was glad that we were there, when thinking about the protest afterwards, I was a bit disturbed by the overall tone of the protest...joy. Although Bolton put a stay on certain parts of the SB1070 law, there are other parts that went into effect that are very disturbing.

For example, some provisions that are in effect as a result of SB1070:
-It is a STATE CRIME to transport or harbor an illegal alien
-It is a STATE CRIME to stop in traffic (any road) to hire a day laborer
-Arizona residents may still file suit against any agency, official, city or county for adopting policies restricting enforcement of federal immigration law.

If this law went into effect in TX, Annunciation House would be serious trouble. By making these STATE crimes, it expands the range of officials who can (and have the duty to) arrest and prosecute.

Although it is great that some of the most offensive parts of SB1070 did not go into effect, some others still did. The "protest" should have brought to light those issues. If we don't, who will?

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When I was at the protest, a reporter from a Juarez TV news station approached me and asked if I spoke Spanish. I answered, "mas o menos" (more or less). With the cameraman about 1 foot from my face, the reporter asked me in Spanish, "you are not hispanic...why are you here at this protest?"

I was not expecting a question like that. I wish there were no reason to ask questions like that. No citizen should stay quiet when there are racist and discriminatory laws on the books.

I responded that I worked as a volunteer at a house for migrants, and that after working there for some time, I felt like they were all my brothers and sisters. I said that I felt it was my responsibility, and that of other citizens, to use our voices to speak for them.

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