It is difficult to be optimistic about the still-closed US/Mexican border in Douglas, Arizona/Agua Prieta, Sonora. Sure, the work of organizations and volunteers meeting the needs of migrants has been heroic. But the plight of the migrants themselves—whether those returned to Mexico with blistered feet and inadequate clothing or those who have been waiting at the shelter for over a year to request asylum at the US Port of Entry—offers little to celebrate.
However, less than two weeks ago, that story changed for two women, each with a young son, from southern Mexico. An immigration lawyer in Nogales, Sonora, heard about these women who have been in Agua Prieta since the beginning of 2020. That person presented their case to US officials who granted the women entry into the US to request asylum before a US immigration court. Each of the women and their sons now await their court dates with relatives in the US, one in California and one in Oklahoma.
- Give thanks that these women have now completed another step in their journey.
- Remember their courage and endurance each step of the way.
- Pray for all the people who have helped them: aid workers, volunteers, the people at the migrant shelter, and the people who facilitated their entry into the US. Give thanks for their compassion, resilience, and dedication.
- Pray that one day soon the border will re-open and people can again request asylum and no longer live in danger.
